of all kinds, — for their grounds, and in short every thing that belongs to their homes- 

 their real, unaffected knowledge of, and pleasure in these things, and the unreserved way in 

 which they talk about them, would startle some of my young friends at home, who are 



educated in the fashionable boarding-school of jMadamf. , to consider all such things 



" vulgar," and " unlady-like." I accompanied the younger members of the family here 

 this morning, in an exploration of the mysteries of the place. No sooner did we make 

 our appearance out of doors, than w^e were saluted by dogs of all degrees, and each had the 

 honor of an interview and personal reception, which seemed to be productive of pleasure on 

 both sides. Then some of the horses were brought out of the stable, and a parley took place 

 between them and their fair mistresses ; some favorite cows were to be petted and looked after, 

 and their good points were descanted on with knowledge and discrimination; and there was 

 the basse coiir, with its various population, all discussed and shown with such livel}^ un- 

 affected interest, that I soon saw my fair companions were " born to love pigs and chick- 

 ens." I have said nothing about the garden, because 3'ou know that it is especially the 

 lady's province here. An English woman with no taste for gardening, would be as great 

 a marvel as an angel without wings. And now, Avere these fresh looking girls, who have so 

 thoroughly entered into these rustic enjoyments, mere country lasses and dairymaids? By 

 no means. They will converse with you in three or four languages; are thoroughly well- 

 grounded in modern literature; sketch from nature with the ease of professional artists, 

 and will sit down to the piano-forte and give you an old ballad, or the finest German or 

 Italian music, as your taste may dictate. And yet many of mj^ young country-women of 

 their age, whose education — wholly intended for the drawing-room — is far below what I 

 have described, would have half fainted with terror, and half blushed with false delicacy, 

 twenty times in the course of the morning, with the discussions of the farm-3'ard, meadow 

 and stables, which properly belong to a wholsesome country life, and are not in the 

 slightest degree at variance with real delicacy and refinement. I very well know that 

 there are many sensibly educated young women at home, who have the same breadth of 

 cultivation, and the same variety of resources, that make the English women such truly 

 agreeable companions; but alas, I also know that there are many whose beau ideal 

 is bounded by a circle that contains the latest fashionable dance for the feet, the latest 

 fashionable novel for the head, and the latest fashionable fancy work for the fingers. 



If I have unconsciously run into something like a sermon, it is from the feeling that 

 among my own lovel}' countrywomen is to be found the ground- work of the most perfectly 

 attractive feminine character in the world. But of late, their education has been a little 

 vitiated by the introduction of the flimsiest points of French social requirements — rather 

 than the more solid and estimable qualities which belong to English domestic life. The best 

 social development in America will, doubtless, finally result from an internal movement 

 springing from the very bosom of our institutions; but before that can happen, a great 

 many traits and refinements will necessarily be borrowed from the old world — and the 

 larger interests, healthier home tastes, and more thorough education of English women, 

 seem to me hardly rated so highly by us as they deserve. Go to Paris, if you will, to see 

 the most perfect taste in dress, and the finest charm of merely external manners, 

 but make the acquaintance of English Avomen if you wish to get a high idea of feminine 

 character, as it should be to command your sincerest and most lasting admiration and 

 respect. A. J. D. 



Htrlford shire, Sept., 1, ISjO. 



