Saturday 29th (March)
This was a beautiful morning, but I arose rather late, did my
work, and then went down to school where was such a sight as I have not seen for
some time. Mr Gough was there with about 100 girls around him. He wrote in all,
and those he did not write in he signed his name and dated after Mr L had written
in them. The girls played and sang for him, filled his hat with flowers, shook hands
with him and I do not know what all they did not do. We staid there until nearly
two and then came home but found no dinner. After I came home I answered a letter
washed myself and dressed. In the evening father and Libby went down also Cousin
Elizabeth went with Mr Bigger leaving Caroline and me home alone. The first part
of the evening I sat on the front steps, then came in and studied my lessons, and
now while Caroline writes her journal I shall …?.. awaiting the arrival of the absent
ones.
Serena gives an interesting description of the celebrity,
Mr. Gough, surrounded by his admirers. She appears to be slightly critical of
the adoration. John B. Gough published his autobiography a few years ago, in
1848. It is a small book, measuring 4 inches by 6 ½ inches, the perfect size to
be tucked next to a young girl’s heart. The girls may be asking Mr. Gough
to sign their copies of this book. Mr. L. is probably Edward Lippett, the
Professor of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.
Serena goes to her bedroom to wash herself and dress for the
evening. She probably has a wash stand in her bedroom. The wash stand is a low
cabinet with a marble top holding a pitcher of fresh water and a large basin. A
china soap dish is decorated to match the pitcher and basin. A slop jar is
hidden behind cabinet doors in the base. This is used to dispose of used water
from the basin. The servant is responsible for filling the pitcher and emptying
the slop jar outdoors.
Serena’s home probably does not have running water. It may possibly
have a bathroom with an ornate tub that would be filled by the servant carrying
buckets of hot water. Less affluent families may bathe in a large tub moved
into the kitchen. Catherine Beecher includes several floor plans in her 1841 Treatise on Domestic Economy. None of these floor
plans includes a bath room. She recommends accommodations at the rear of the
home to include a bathing-room and laundry tub conveniently placed near the
pump, reservoir or cistern, and boiler or furnace. Privies and a large wood
pile would be nearby and sheltered from the elements (Beecher 274-294).
The family may have one of the new water closets or earth
closets to function as a toilet inside the house, or they may use chamber pots
or commodes in their bedrooms for toilets.
Chamber pots are large porcelain pots, with lids, discretely kept under
the beds. Commodes are large, stately chairs with a seat that can be lifted to
reveal a large pot (Seymour 302-303). Again it is the responsibility of the
servant to empty these pots into the privy in the back yard.
Daily
Cincinnati Gazette, July 29, 1851
The Cincinnati
Enquirer March 30, 1851
Rumors about the “Swedish Nightingale” Jenny Lind are
beginning to circulate. P. T. Barnum, the promoter, has brought her to America
and is making arrangements for her concert tour. It is unlikely that anyone in
Cincinnati has heard her sing because that would have required travel to Europe
or to one of her earlier American concerts. Sound recordings, moving pictures,
radio, and television will not be invented for many years. Mr. Barnum will
succeed in whipping up mass hysteria among people who may have never attended a
concert before.
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