Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-10-03

whose weakness is its strength, they
p.id the utmosl respect. The lady (or,
a. the Ssxons called her, the "lee(dien"
or head giver,) safe nj the upper end Of
the table, ana disiribu,ed the provisions
10 her guesis, who took their places in
the strict order of their rank-ior the
laws Of canute provided that any one
taking q seat to which he was not enti-
tied should be pelted out Of il by bones
at the discretion Of the company. il
such a law were noso 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. Al some Of the higher houses dias
or elevated table was reserved, in all the
pride Of naughty aristocracy, for the Pe-
culiar use Of the host Their food was
plain but plentiful. Large joints OF
roasted meat had the preference, and
sailed victuals were much used. Wine,
mead, ale, and various spiced drinks
were freely used. AT their feasts were
displayed the richest Of the Anglo Sax
on's furniture. There were exhibited
their gold, silver, and silver gilt cups
their dishes, bowls and basins Of the
same precious metals their benches and
seats carved like animals, after the Gre
clan fashion, and covered with embroi-
dercd cloth their apartments decorated
with richly wrought hangings, and their
tables made Of valuable wood-some-
times even Of marble and silver. But
whstever poInp they could exhibit, they
had little idea Of what we are accustom-
ed to consider rs the comforts and neces-
ssries Of life. Their indoor amusement
were bear-paitine, gambling, dancing
and singing their manly field sports
were hunting and hawking.
In domestic life the Anglo-Saxons
were exemplary. True, their piety Of
ten degeneratsd to creduIily or super
stition, and their hospitality to drunken
extravagance, but they were remarkably
fond Of their wives, children, and retain
ers. When married, the nuptial tie was
usually well observed, and-would thai,
the fashion were generally revived -
most of the ladies' nursed their own chill
dren.
Marriages were celebrated with grea,
state, as something not lightly to be un-
dertaken. Every maiden had a guar
dian, from whom the lover had to pur-
chase her by a mede or gin, the amount
Of which was settled by law. Women
who had been married before, had Il
claim to this guardianship, but the law
set 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 the 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 morning after the
marriage, the bride had right-lrom
custom irnmemorial Ito ask her hush and
for gift to serve her as pin-money
the amount Of this gift was usually ar
ranged before marriage. The nuptial
benediction was often given to the bride,
while standing under kind Of veil, held
over her head by four tall men, that her
bushes might be concealed. l sadly
fear that in many modern marriages
there is little occasion for such veil Cor
such purpose. No veil was held over
widow-they did not give her credit
for having any bushes left . Divorces
sometimes took place the lady might
separate from her spouse for various
causes.
Enough, however, Of our Saxon an
ccstors for to-day. We shall refer to
them in another article.