Few societies traveled as much as the British during the 1900's. They traveled to build empires, to educate themselves and to view with curiosity and amazement the lives of other people. Two essays, one by Isabella Bird, the other by Frances Trollope give us two very interesting perspectives on America. These two very different women who traveled to the United States for very different reasons share with us their findings and opinions on our budding country and at the same time give us an idea of Victorian women's values and though processes.
It seems that the early United States were not quite "civilized" or "refined" enough for Trollope. In her writings of Domestic Manners of the Americans Trollope examines what she saw as a complete lack of culture and refinement. Her experience with the country seemed to be quite negative, from the "muddy", and "desolate" banks of the Mississippi, to the hog filled streets of Cincinnati Frances Trollope had a horrible time. The words she chooses to describe all things hold very negative connotations; she goes from the "deep blue" of the Mexican Gulf, to the "murky stream" of the Mississippi by which she is received to the U.S. She refers to the scene before her as something out of Dante's Inferno. She calls a wrecked ship "[a dismal witness of the destruction, and a boding prophet of which is to come,]" not a great start to a voyage. From the endless mud banks and the "monstrous bulrushes," Trollope moves her observations to her shipmates.
She tells us that the "gentlemen" who shared her voyage never would have been called that in Europe, military or not. They had total "want of all the usual courtesies of the table" and a "[loathsome habit of spitting.]" It seems the way they "devoured" their "viands" and ate "[voraciously]" was not up to her standards. Frances Trollope must have been a fine lady. .
As such Mrs. Trollope was in want of a servant when she first arrived to her destination.
