Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-09-26

the present day are compelled, BY the imperial de.
cree ct tasi'on, foolish and nngraeefal, to put into
their ears. Yes, earrings are the adoption Of LAT.
ter times,-I wonder when fashion viii demand
thet rings be worn in the nose elsef am sure
that one disarmament is no worse than tie 9th
er.
The attire Of the Anglo-Saxon ladies must have
been one of singular grace and beauty. A long.
loose robe, reaching 10 the ground, made Of some
valuable material and richly ornamented with gold
ard embroidery, gave a flowing outline TO the fig
he. The hair-uncoBfned by the trammsls Of a,t
waved upo6 their Shoulders, and being turned
back, tell down behind, without tying or braidsag.
yellow ;resses--the favoriie color Of the ancient
poets-were the ton, and we know that. in Rome
az least, the hoe was simulated by shedding gold
dust amid the hair.
In these times the men and women of the upper
rank wore slippers a cross bandage, which sccu-
red he slipper to the foot, served the mea in Iieu
OF stockings; But | fear that the ladies were stock
~ing-lcss. Perhaps their feet were SO white tha,
they lacked not the foreign ornament" Where
the face was beautiful, who would look at the feet.
unless, indeed, to admire their exquisite symme.
tryf
The manner of the Anglo axons bad a dash Of
that semi-savege chivalry which fedeems much of
the b~arbarity of the early and middle ages. To
that sex whose weakness is its strength, thew paid
the utmost respect. The lady Tor as the Saxons
called her, the 'iea}diea" or head giver,l sat al
the upper end of the table, and distributed the pro-
visions TO her guests, who took their places in the
! strict order of their rank-for the laws OF Capu,e
provided, that any one tsking a sea, to which he
was not entitled, should be pelted ont of il by bones,
at the discretion OF the company. Ii such a law
were nor enforced, fancy what perpetual peltings
there would be The salt was placed IN the centre
OF the table, and the seats Of honor were above il.
At some OF the higher houses a dias or elevated Ia
bic was reserved, in all the pride of naughty aris-
toeracy, for the peculiar use OF the host. Their
food was plain but plentiful. Large joints of roast-
ed meat had the preference, and salted yictuals
were much used. Wine, mead, ale, and various
spiced drinks were freely used. AT their feasts
were displayed the richest of the Anglo Saxons'
furniture. There were exhibited their gold, silver.
and silver gilt cups--their dishes, bowls ard basins
OF the same precious metals their benches and
seats carved like animals, after the Grecinn fash
ion, and covered with embroidered cioth; their
apartments decorated with richly wrought hang
ings, and their tables made of valuable wood
sometimes even of marble and silver. But, what
ever pomp they could exhibit, they had lltle idea
of what we are accustomed to consider as the com
forts and necessafies of life Their indoor nmsse-
ments were bear.baiting, gambling, dancing and
singing; their manly field sports were hunting and
hawking.
In domestic life the Anglo-Saxons were exempla-
~. True, their piety often degenerated to creduli-
| ) VI 3ofSfoAfioit dhi Ahtii itsptoiiif 10 nfEnktn
extravaganza, but they were remarkably fond of
their wives, children, apd reiainers. When mar
fied, the nuptial tile was usually well observed, and
would that the fashion were generally revived
most of the ladies nursed their own children.
Marriages were celebrated with great state, as
something not lightly TO be undertaken. Every
maiden had o guardian, from whom the loysr had
to purchase her by a mede or gift, the amount of
which was settled by law. Women who had been
married before, bad a claim to this guardianship,
but the law set a higher price, by one half, upon
the maiden than the widow. No wedding took
place until the guardian was assured that a proper
provision had been secured in case of he husbands
death. The relations OF both parties were invited
to the wedding feast, and made presents of gold,
arms, clothes, and household stuff, which formed
the marriage portion Of the bride. On the morn
ing after the marriage, the bride had a right-from
custom immemorial-to ask her husband for a Gift
TO serve her as pinmonsy: the amount of this gift
was usually arranged before the marriage. The
nuptial benediction was often given To the bride,
while standing under a kind of veil, held over her
head by four tall men, that her bushes might he
concealed. | sadly fear that in many modern mar
riages there is little occasion for such a veil for such
a purpose. No veil was held over a widow-thsy
did not give her credit Tor having any bushes left!
Divorces sometimes took places the lady might
separate from her spouse for various causes.
From the Anglo-Saxons descended that peculiar
~ English custom-more honored in the breach
than the observanee-which allows 'lordly man.
to administer personal chastisement to his wife
If she called him opprobrious names, pulled him By
the beard, squandered his goods, or perilled his
honorby ~inhdelity or flirting, he might give her
three blows with a stick, on any part except her
head. But if he beat her more severely, or for a
less cause, he was liable to pay a large fine. For
the information of the curious in such matters, j
may state that within the last forty years one of the
| Euoliab ludOee Mr. Jnatiea RplIar ria.laroJ f,o..
the bench that English husbands retained this right;
but that the stick with which he beat his dearly be-
loved, must be no thicker than his thumb. The la,
dies Of Stahord, where this most uneallant Judge
ment was publicly given, had the spirit to address
a round-robin to the Judge, requesting his L,ordship
TO favor them with a note Of the exact dimensions
of his thumb!
The burial ceremony was a joyful f~estivaIin early
Britain. Feastipg, dancing, singing. love-making,
and all sorts OF what is commonly called " Fun
we're freely INDUCED in, at the house where the ul-
buried corpse lay, and the rites Of sculpture were
often delayed, that the festivities should be ptolone-
ed. The common collins were made of wood, The
superior ones of stone, and many of these have
been discovered in various parts of England in later
days.
The Anglo-Norfnan dress, in the 11th century,
was simple, If not elegant. The mobiles and gentry
wore a long and close gown reaching to the feet,
the lower edge being usually embroidered with gold.
Over this hung an equally long cloak, generally
clasped over the breast. In walking or riding, a
hood hung behind it. The close gown was put on,
over the head like a shirt, and fastened round The
waist by a girdie, often studded with gems. Their
" neither man" was attred IN fine cloth, sometimes
very costly. Long-,oed shoes, which came In with
William Rufus, were denounced from the pulpit as
unnatural.
The Queen and other fashionables Of the Anglo
Normans, wore loose gowns, trailing on the ground.
aud frightened round the waist with a girdIe, from
which was suspended "a large purse or pouch-the
ancestor, | presume, of the modern ieticule. Mar
ried women had an additional robe over the gown,
hanging down before like part ola priests dress.
Il has been ascertained that the umbrella was IN