Victorian Mumsnet

[PlayOnWurtz]

Brought over from another thread...

AIBU to think I've left it too late by starting my ds in the mining profession at 5?

How old is too old to go up chimneys?

What size coal is right for my fire?

"DH opened the window and I was quite cross! "

Had Windows on your carrage did you? How very lar-de-dar

@SittingAround1 Mon 17-Apr-17 11:48:27

Dearest Ladies. My nerves are playing up again but my DH merely dismisses my concerns as just the thoughts of a silly little creature and to not over work my feeble brain thinking of such things.
You see we only have (unmarried as yet) daughters and if the unthinkable should happen to my DH, I'm not sure how we would get on. You see the estate would pass to his third cousin, once removed, who I have only had the fortune to encounter once at our dear uncle's summer ball a few years ago and he wasn't the most amenable of gentlemen.
Oh dear I fear I do go on a bit and I suppose there is nothing to be done.

Alas, I fear your brain is addled: the solution is obvious - your eldest daughter must marry the heir. Brook no protest. It matters not one whit that the gentleman be not amenable: it is her duty to save the family from penury.

La, MissAusten, I fear you may have become so addled you have quite posted on the wrong thread. Allow me to direct you to Regency Mumsnet.

Or perhaps it is I who is addled of brain and SittingAround who has become disoriented and lost her way from Regency Mumsnet.

I shall have to take to my bed for at least three weeks to recover from the mortification and public humiliation.

AIBU to have painted the sick room in lead white? It makes me feel a bit woozy being in there so long, but white paint can't be anything but hygienic and good for an invalid, especially as we make a point of keeping the windows tight shut to keep all that leaded goodness in...my consumptive sister will be better in no time.

@morningtoncrescent62
Might I prevail upon you to explain where I might find Regency Mumsnet?

MissAustin alas this solution would solve many a problem and calm my tattered nerves, but my DD, has become quite modern in her thinking. She quite frequently lectures me on such radical views as ladies using their education to find meaningful employment to support themselves! She even suggested that it wouldn't be improper for her to ride unchaperoned on one of these new locomotives.

*@mornington' oh dear I fear you find me terribly old fashioned.

Might I prevail upon you to explain where I might find Regency Mumsnet?

I would, but unfortunately it has run off to London with a young rake from the regiment. Do you have an uncle who could follow in pursuit?

@SittingAround1

Surely your DD's Papa can be prevailed upon to make her see reason?

Perhaps you he might suggest that she is better off married to the man who will in time inherit her Papa's estate rather than to be left on the shelf when one of her younger sisters seizes the opportunnity that she has neglected to appreciate. Or worse still, if the cousin is "snapped up" by some scheming female from outside the family.

AIBU- to leave the house keeping and staffing issues to us woman?

I have name changed as I fear it might be quite identifying, and God forbid, if my dearest husband finds out, I might be banned from this most magical of parlour meeting devices.

So, here it goes... last year, I found my eldest DS (18) and the scullery maid in the most compromised position imaginable in the library!
At first, I was not concerned, as as he obviously needed to relieve himself in this most obscure of manners. (It is a young man's duty to get practice in this manner, as my dearest husband explained.)
A few months later, I noted, that said maid was getting rather large in the peculiar manner. Obviously I had to let the little wrench go, and thought this was the end of that.
After this dismissal, I overhear my butler and the cook talking about this wrench and how she was certain, that the young master would take care of her in form of an small allowance!
I did not take much notice of such talk and rather foolishly thought of it as servants gossip.
Now I come to notice today, that said maid has a position in the laundry house.
It was my dear husband himself, who gave that most unfortunate thing the position. And upon raising the issue, my DH forbid me to dismiss this creature!
I fear she has found a way to disgrace my honourable family in the most unimaginable manner.
AIBU - how can I make my DH understand that this creature is of the most disgraceful kind and has no place in an respected household.

Ylva

Men simply will not see sense when it comes to their, well, their 'appetites'. I think you would do well to look around and see if there is an amenable footman or stableboy at a neighbouring country estate and see if you can convince him to take this slattern away and marry her. I expect if you offered a 'wedding present' of £5 or £10 you may find an agreeable person. But you must insist on discretion and secrecy.

I've married off two scullery maids and a tweenie after my husband showed an unnatural interest in them.

MrsPark: Are you feeling quite well my dear? Your words are quite incomprehensible, implying you are expecting a tradesperson to address you rather than your lord and master husband? You must hush or you could be taken off to Bedlam where I hear it's frightful.

Ylva: With child and in your laundry? God forbid. I would have your housekeeper or butler find fault and dismiss her immediately. You can then plead ignorance with your husband (and perhaps invite him into your bedchamber to discuss it)?

I can birth live rabbits from under my crinoline during seances.
I can be bought for any occasion; weddings, wakes and fetes.
2 guineas and your guests will be astounded.

My daughter is recently bethrothed. Is it required of me to speak with her on the issue of bedroom unpleasantness?

Ms Houlies Certainly not! Why the idea! She can find out the way the rest of us did, on our wedding night.

I'm sure she'll come to you about it afterwards. Just tell her then that we must bear these things in return for the joy of motherhood.