Maria Mitchell In Her Own Words
October 23 {1857} Another dinner party at the {Royal} observatory consisting of the Struves, General {Edward} and Mrs. Sabine, Prof. {Baden} and Mrs. Powell, Mr. Main and ourselves . . . Mrs. Airy told me she should arrange the order of the guests at table to please herself; that, properly all the married ladies should preceded me, but that I was really to go out first, with Mr. Airy . . . Mrs. Airy looked at me significantly when Mr. Airy forgot to carve, or helped to pudding too hastily . . . The dinner was soup, fish, chicken and saddle of mutton, side dishes were beef Olive, i.e. rolls of fried and stewed beef, apple tart, and plum pudding jellies and tarts next, bread and cheese next, pears and grapes next, and then the ladies left the room . . .
And you should have seen the comments she made about how people were dressed!
Maria Mitchell and the Airys became very close – especially Richarda Airy and Maria. She spent much time while in England visiting the Royal Observatory where Sir George Airy lived and worked as the Astronomer Royal. What I love is Mrs. Airy’s disregard – or maybe even disdain – for how they should be seated and enter and leave the dinner per societal norms. It makes me realize that this is just one reason why she and Maria Mitchell became so close. Maria would not have any use for such pomp and it also illustrates, to me, a belief that everyone is on equal footing – you are no better because you are married or your status socially or economically. This may be because Richarda’s father was a minister and it certainly fits with Maria’s Quaker beliefs.
JNLF
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