Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
308
Journals of Dorothy Wordsworth, Vol. 1 (of 2)
·
Dorothy Wordsworth
244
Tuesday,
August
23rd.--A
cold
morning.
Walked
to
the
bleaching-ground,[87]
a
large
field
bordering
on
the
Clyde,
the
banks
of
which
are
perfectly
flat,
and
the
general
face
of
the
country
is
nearly
so
in
the
neighbourhood
of
Glasgow.
This
field,
the
whole
summer
through,
is
covered
with
women
of
all
ages,
children,
and
young
girls
spreading
out
their
linen,
and
watching
it
while
it
bleaches.
The
scene
must
be
very
cheerful
on
a
fine
day,
but
it
rained
when
we
were
there,
and
though
there
was
linen
spread
out
in
all
parts,
and
great
numbers
of
women
and
girls
were
at
work,
yet
there
would
have
been
many
more
on
a
fine
day,
and
they
would
have
appeared
happy,
instead
of
stupid
and
cheerless.
In
the
middle
of
the
field
is
a
wash-house,
whither
the
inhabitants
of
this
large
town,
rich
and
poor,
send
or
carry
their
linen
to
be
washed.
There
are
two
very
large
rooms,
with
each
a
cistern
in
the
middle
for
hot
water;
and
all
round
the
rooms
are
benches
for
the
women
to
set
their
tubs
upon.
Both
the
rooms
were
crowded
with
washers;
there
might
be
a
hundred,
or
two,
or
even
three;
for
it
is
not
easy
to
form
an
accurate
notion
of
so
great
a
number;
however,
the
rooms
were
large,
and
they
were
both
full.
It
was
amusing
to
see
so
many
women,
arms,
head,
and
face
all
in
motion,
all
busy
in
an
ordinary
household
employment,
in
which
we
are
accustomed
to
see,
at
the
most,
only
three
or
four
women
employed
in
one
place.
The
women
were
very
civil.
I
learnt
from
them
the
regulations
of
the
house;
but
I
have
forgotten
the
particulars.
The
substance
of
them
is,
that
"so
much"
is
to
be
paid
for
each
tub
of
water,
"so
much"
for
a
tub,
and
the
privilege
of
washing
for
a
day,
and,
"so
much"
to
the
general
overlookers
of
the
linen,
when
it
is
left
to
be
bleached.
An
old
man
and
woman
have
this
office,
who
were
walking
about,
two
melancholy
figures.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
