But there is another class of white persons, who, although not dependent upon parochial relief, dress and act equally beyond their sphere in life. In illustration of this—A lady brings to Antigua an English servant-girl, and before her mistress can collect her scattered thoughts, after all the rolling and bounding, pitching and jumping of the vessel in which she took passage from Old England, the _femme de chambre_ is turned into the fine lady; and ere, perhaps, six moons have waned, is united in the holy bands of wedlock with a _ci-devant_ Irish soldier, who plays the part of a policeman; a lately-imported English ploughman; or, in lack of these, some red-faced overseer, who may stand in want of that somewhat necessary appendage—a wife. Servitude at an end, our fair lady makes a display of her dignity, and all the cast-off graces of her former mistress—wears very fashionable blonde caps, and long-skirted gowns—patronizes hysterics and _eau de Cologne_—and laves her previously hard-worked fingers with Rowland’s Kalydor. Equipped in all her finery, she next makes her appearance at church, and when the service is over, bows and courtesies with self-approved grace to any other _white lady;_ and then takes promenades with her fiery-faced husband, while visions of future grandeur and _invites_ to Government House float through her brain. If “her lord” should be an overseer, the estate upon which he is employed generally furnishes him with servants; but if instead, he is an ex-son of Mars, or some similar grade, our _lady_ employs a black servant-girl of about eight years of age, to conduct her domestic affairs; while her husband obtains another specimen of juvenility, (but of course of an opposite sex,) to play the part of groom to the Canadian pony he has lately purchased for about four pounds sterling. Although not _quite_ so thick “As autumnal leaves that strow the brooks In Vallambrosa,” still ladies and gentlemen of the grade above described are no _raræ aves_ in Antigua; in all parts of the island they more or less abound, while in affectation and outward adornment they are not to be equalled among the _pure in blood_. ------ [58] In former years there was a subscription assembly held at “Smith’s Tavern,” then a noted house of entertainment, where cards and dancing were resorted to until twelve o’clock, when supper was introduced, and the festive party broke up about two in the morning.