Comparisons

I came across this narrative today and drew some interesting comparisons.

It was written by G.O. Trevlyan (1866) as cited in NYAR P.K., "Days of the Raj. Life and Leisure in British India"  Penguin 2009.

"Good novels are in limited number, and it is too much to expect that a lady should read history and poetry for six hours every day.  What well regulated female can dress an object in a society of a dozen people, who know her rank to a title, and her income to a pice; or music, when her audience consists of a Punkah-wallah and a Portuguese Ayah?  Some ladies as a matter of conscience go very closely into the details of household affairs; but after a time they come to the conclusion that it is better to allow the servants to cheat within a certain margin, for the sake of peace and quietness; for cheat they will, do what you may. Oh! The dreariness of that hour in the middle of the long day, when the children are asleep, and your husband has gone to tiffin with the judge, and the book-club has nothing but Latham's 'Nationalities of Europe'...and the English post has come in yesterday, with nothing but a letter from your old governess, congratulating you for being settled among the associations of the Mahommedan conquerors of India, and asking you to take some notice of her nephew, who is in the office of the Accountant-General of Bombay.  It is very uphill work for a lady out here to keep up her spirits and pluck, and her interest in general subjects."

This passage may be compared to Baillie-Stewart G.,  "Bangalore Life"  Blogspot.com 2011

"Good novels are in limited number, and it is too much to expect that a chap should read Law with the University of London for six hours every day.  What well regulated chap can dress an object in a society of a dozen people, who knew his rank in his career, and his income to a pice; or bagpipes, when his audience consists of a three cats and an Israeli next door neighbour?  Some chaps as a matter of conscience go very closely into the details of their gardener's affairs; but after a time they come to the conclusion that it is better to allow him to steal the neighbours' horticulture  within a certain margin, for the sake of peace and quietness; for steal he will, do what you may. Oh! The dreariness of that hour in the middle of the long day, when the cats are asleep, and your wife has gone to an ex-patriot tax meeting with the company partner and won't answer her mobile, and the book-club has nothing but old copies of "People's Friend"...and the English post has come in yesterday, with nothing but a letter from your old Mother, criticising you for being settled so far away, and asking you to take some notice of the difference in the weather between here and home and the comparative price of goods.   It is very uphill work for a chap out here to keep up his spirits and pluck, and his interest in general subjects."