From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
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<strong>Farm</strong> <strong>House</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>White</strong> <strong>House</strong>, by William M. Thayer 122<br />
"Two ells fine Holland, at 10s.<br />
"Eight pairs kid mits.<br />
"Four pairs gloves.<br />
"Two pairs silk shoes.<br />
"Four pairs Calimanco do.<br />
"Four pairs lea<strong>the</strong>r pumps.<br />
Six pairs fine thread s<strong>to</strong>ckings.<br />
"Four pairs worsted do.<br />
"Half piece flowered dimity.<br />
"Two yards fine cambric, at 10s.<br />
"Two caps, two pairs ruffles, two tuckers, bibs, and aprons, if fashionable.<br />
"Two fans, two masks, two bonnets.<br />
"Two m. minikins, one cloth cloak.<br />
"One stiffened coat of fashionable silk, made <strong>to</strong> packthread stays.<br />
"Six yards ribbon.<br />
"Two necklaces.<br />
"One pair silver sleeve but<strong>to</strong>ns, with s<strong>to</strong>ne.<br />
"One fashionable, dressed baby, 10s., and o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong>ys, 10s.<br />
"Six pocket handkerchiefs."<br />
This insight in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> early wedded life of Washing<strong>to</strong>n, a hundred and twenty years ago, upsets <strong>the</strong> notions of<br />
those people, in our day, who suppose that <strong>the</strong> sway of fashion belongs <strong>to</strong> modern times only.<br />
Mrs. Washing<strong>to</strong>n was proverbially kind <strong>to</strong> her slaves, though not more so than her husband. They constituted<br />
a part of her family, for whom she had <strong>to</strong> provide both in health and sickness. This fact explains several<br />
entries in his journal concerning <strong>the</strong> quantity of provisions used. For example, one entry is, "Although we<br />
keep one hundred and one cows, we have <strong>to</strong> buy some butter."<br />
Among <strong>the</strong>ir slaves were all kinds of artificers--carpenters, blacksmiths, shoemakers, tailors, wheel-wrights,<br />
and so forth. All <strong>the</strong>se were indispensable on such an establishment, since a plantation must necessarily<br />
produce whatever ordinary use required. This arrangement imposed increased burdens upon <strong>the</strong> master of <strong>the</strong><br />
plantation and <strong>the</strong> mistress of <strong>the</strong> house.<br />
Mrs. Washing<strong>to</strong>n was as domestic in <strong>the</strong> house as her husband was practical on <strong>the</strong> farm. His journal shows