FINERY IN THE KITCHEN.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 436, 27 December 1861, Page 6

FINERY IN THE KITCHEN.

Wk lately callod attention to the fact th-it Rngli*h tnaid-servants lnve not the very hest "f education in the world, and that ladies would do well, when they engage apieity china-breaker, to a-'certain that she has not been a pupil »t a day school, where more regard is paid to Crinoline than cleanliness, and whure pocket handkerchi'-fs are held of less ucconnt than peacock-f-athfred porkpie hats. This mania for fine dresses is & *<ad!y growing evil, and ill-educated minds of course are m-'st a fleeted by it. Many a servant squanders her sav'ngs in cheap finery, and sp'Tids on Sunday shawls and bonnets what would well nigh furnish her a cottage \rll3n she inanied, or at leant afford som-. shelter against a rainy day. In-r-tead of having forethought for feathering their nests, gir'.s too often only think of feathering themselves, and by dressing far too finely fur their station, they aff. ight the homely lovers they areanxionsto attract.

How f;ir ladies are to blame for the finery and aped gentility of servant-, is a question which, if asked, stands little chance of being answered, except by lnisogynic monsters who are ungallant enough to sneer at the f.*ir sex. Woman, say the cynics, is an imitative aniixial, and if a servant sees her misti'es- extravagant in dre<s shts herself heroines infected with the mania, and makes herself ridiculous by giving it full vt-nt Having neither taste nor inouej to sum it to advantage, she lakesa leaf out of the fashion book ou which her mistress pins her faith : and walks out of a Sunday like a daw in peacock's plumage, or a Swelless in burlesque. Of course except Tyrant Fashion, Britons and Britonesses never never will be slaves: and now-a--days ourse vants are by far too independent to submit to any law for their smnptnarv restraint. Itisapitj', nevertheless, that we have cot a a itional costume for our domestics, as we have for our Queen's Ministers and servants of the State. Our pretty china-breakers would look a vast deal prettier in suitable attire, than they do now in mock millinery and Brummagem glass brooches, and cheap cotton imitations of costly foreign silks.

A sib me ax Drink in Rkqoest.—Wanted & Sherry cobbler, to mend the Union.

" Ladiks' Light Dkesses." —From the frequency with which it takes fire, we .-hou <) Bay that, Crinoline was en'itled to be calle-1, par excellence, " The Lady's Lig'it Dress."

A Fast Race. —The l'aukees have long been extremely fond of boasting that they are by far the most go-a-head of nations ; and after hearing how they wenta-headin running from Bull's Kan, we cannot well dispute there being some ground for their boast. — Punch.

A White Fib.—Ami-President Jeff. Davis, in his las»t Message to the Secession Congress, aeserta that the Confederate States took up arms in. defence of their liberties. Jeff. Davis takes great lioerties with language. The tact is, that they rebelled in defence of their slaveries. Anti-lJrefi-dent Davis appears to be a man who really would not hesitate to swear that black is white..

American Unity.—Mrs. Sto<ve has published a loug aad grandiose letter to an English nobleman on American affairs. It is dated before " the rapid movement" of Bull's liui, and the lady observes tint " the North rose like one man." Would she kindly mention what man, and also why he ran away lik.3 one woman.

A Home QuESTto.N.—Ia the return of " Homemade Spirits" lately issued by the Government,' we can find no mention made of the spirits winch last summer were " summoned Irom the vasty deep' by shallow-pated spirit-rapper*, and which, as Mr. Home the medium was generally present to assist the manufacture of the spiritual intercourse may fairly be included in the list of " Homemade spirits." It may be that these-spirits were lett out of theretur v, because they never have fairly come up to proper proof.

Specimen of Lying.—There is a good story of a French soldier, who was near his officer at a; siege, when the head of the latter was tikeu off with a cannon ball. Friends of the officer cams up. and the brave so'dier said, " Yes, gentlemen, he had only time to say to me,' Take my purse and my watch, and he was dead." But the story will not stand alo'.ie in its goodness, since tha last ne.vs from America. The unfortunate General Lyon, according to the Special Jorrespondent of one of the New York papers, " was shot straight through the head. I asked him whether he was hurt. He said,' I think not much,' and those were his last words." Lions are tenaciout of life, and Yankees are credulous of lies, but tints will hardly do And it is •' too bad" that a bray« soldier, killed in service, should furnish the subject of a ridiculous paragraph to a lying penny-a--liner. We don't wonder that the New Yorit Herald, though itself Mendax in Excelsis, is begging the authorities to put the press down.

Delicacy and Generosity Charmingly Combined — The following, which we copy out of a Dublin paper, is far to good to he lost :— " The gentleman who took a pocket-book from the person of an individual at Kingstown on Wednesday Evk.ving last, is requested to return, through the Pod, the Papers and Documents which it contained, with the exception of the £26 which be may retain, a* a reward for the dexterity he exhibited on the occasion. The Individual feels grateful to the gentleman for having left. Mm his Watch and Chain. Addiess 1 , Kinsley's Hotel, Church Lane." We wonder the advertiser didn't ask the " Gentleman" to dinner, in order that they might have the opportunity of talking the little matter over a cool bottle of champagne. We really believe that thieves (we beg pardon, gentlemen) would be a belter-bred s-?t of people if they were always treated with civility equal to the above. Ther* is nothing like appealing to a person's gentlemanly feelings If we only took to ihi«ves(»e meant to say, gentlemen) in th^ same natural way that they take to us, we are sure that we should meet on a nnvih friendler footing, and be able to exchange civilities that would lie pro .ably agreeable on both sides Only think what a deal of stolen property wonld be returned ! You would appeal to the thief* sense of honour so strongly, that he would ultimately give up tbieung as a loosing concern. Impartiality.—A clergyman had observed' one oi his flock asleep during his sermon. He paused and called him to order, " Jeems llobsoa, ye are sleeping; I insist on your waking when God's Word is preached to ye." "Well, sir, you may look at your am suit, andye'lt sue a sleeper t'orbye me," answered Jcems, pointing to the clergyman s lady in the minister's pevr. "Then, Jeems," said the minis-ter, " when ye see my wife asleep again, hand up your hand." By-and-by the ana' was stretched out, and sure enough the fair lady was caught in the act. Her husband soleni ily called upon her to stand up and receive the censure due to her offesiee. lie thus addressed her :—" Mrs. 8., a body kens that when t got ye for my wife I g->t nae beauty. Yer frien's kjii th.it £ #ot nae siller ; and if I dinna get God's ;;iaci-, 1 shall line a puir bargain indeed." — Reinims-ceiic-s of Scotch Life and Character. Women's fjelin^ are more intense thm those of me.i. We are hippy or udsombk; at a. bull or at hone,