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English And American Living

English And American Living image
Parent Issue
Day
25
Month
September
Year
1847
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

A lelter from London in the Natimial Intelh'gencer malees the following remarks on the dirTerences ín the domeslic habits of the English and American: A boarding house in Liverpool or London would remind an American of those of the Northern or Middle States. He svould observe tliat people sat longe.r al ihe table, and that the tervantá who Lttended were of a very diflerent I tion from those he had been accustomed to, hut he would not stop to decide; Ilr nothing but time would enable him to do this, whether they are betier or worse. He 'vould find the beef as good, and the multan and lamb mvich better in general than he had left behind. He would observe a great deficiency in the variety of vegetables, but wliat he saw would be of a very fine description. Ot fruit, he would find a great deficiency, especiaüy when compared with the variety and abundance to which he had been accustomed at home. As for prices, let it suffice tu suy, that cherries, but they are really very supcrb ones, are now selling at four shilling.? the basket, containing about a pound in weight. The grapes, (hot house rnised) in the fruiterers' windows are indeed very beautiful to the eye, but the palate can only be eratified by paying tenshillings the pound for ïhem. Whilstupon the subject of prices, let me add that beef, niutton and lamb, are bow selling for 12d the lb., that the best flour cosl 6d the lb. and all other kindsol animal and forinaceous foods in proponion. England has no doubt some vei-y fine fruits; her gooseberries, currants, cherries, pears, and plumbs are excellent, and shc produces some very fine va'ieües of appies, but none superior, f equal, to the Newton pipin. Of wines, I would state in general terms that the port and sherry drank in England nre very superior to those which are mostly used in the United States, that the champaigns nnd claret are not so good; and that the Maderia is very inferior. Wc have the advantage, however, in the quality of the Hoek and Rhenish wines which are drunk hcre. l have tasted no eider equnl to your best Newark eider, nor is there any spiritous liquor i-old here which is in nny way to be compared togenuine old Monongahela Whisky. Do not understnnd me as speiking from my own practical experience, but as deriving my information from very competent autliority. If frotn the table we turn tothe pai-lor, the drawing room and the sleeping apartmentsof English residences in iniddie life, we should find the former furnished vvith less show and more solidity than with you, and the latter with more of the litlle accessories to comfort and conveniencei An English kitchen in a private house in genteel life is a pattern of order, eleanliness, and very Complete adaptation to its legitimóte pui'poses, and an English household is a most admirable arranged macliine, in which there isa place for everything in its place, and in whic'i everything is applied to its proper use and at a proper time, without noise, hurry or confusión If from the house we direct our attention to the (fardens, shrubberies and pleasurc grounds, iveshall find overylhing in the trimmest order; the turf, green as an emer.ild, and smooth, soft and level as a carpet. The flowers in the borders, gorgeous in thfiir colors and luuriant in their growth, the shrubs massive and beautiful in thcir foilage, and the hedge rowsand trees (if we can be allowed to speak of trees afier having n the giants of your furests) giving a toul ensemble to the landscape which will be the more admi red the longer it is looked upon, and which unfolds the most of itsbeauties to him who examines it the most in detail. And then the English meadowsj enrth has not a lovelier scène than one of Ihose delicious espanses, when covered with its rich, long, waving silky grassj and variegated with wild flowers of every hue and evory fragrance. When this luxu riant growth has bowed beneath the mower's scylhe, wliat can equal the delicious odor of the nevr-made hay? Great pari of this rich fragrance is derived from the .sweet-scented vernnl grass. 1 do nol know whether thi descrip'.ion is cultivated in the United Slnles; probably, if it be the great heat of fhe sun mav exhaust the fragrance of the grass before it is mowr.. A block of three stury buildings is about to bo put up in Cincinnati, the enifrS front of which ij. to beofcatt iron.

Article

Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News