American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-11-03
deals Three Hundred Years Ago.

''"S let us sit down, in Imagination, at
o.k inner IN England three hundred
f OF rs ago. Mighty joints of beef,
rers rttOn and veal, boiled and roast :,
NO ACCOMPANIED by veal pies,
IONS, black cocks, chickens, plov-
u"''|, partridges, two kinds of bread
Eurhe delicate marchpane and coarser
|nrsucrate; vegetables are almost I'M
OH own in England, ard form no part
the r-gu ar bill of fare. The first
Ia rank are served, and the dishes
c'ere' then passed down in graduation
IN, cthc lower TALES, the last remains
h-a,pliEg reserved for the poor, who
6 81, cry day await this benevolence at
onter gate.
The Secon0 course is uShered in, in
senAae manner, and is still more p!enti-
C. and luxurious --rrst swans, VEN
: -,nrDn, pheasants, pallets, snipc, teal,
- u geous and pastry. The third
lae'' arse is distinguished by the rich
Ken as of the sweets; jelies in the
f liape Of animals, trees, houses, etc;
+ . " subtilitN," or elaborate piece OF
rgar-work, representing, perhaps,
fortress in miniature starts of
pa vers hueS and sundrv drnomina-
sonns," c0nserves of English and
.arioreign fruits, gingerbread, MARINA
nd de, and comtits III endless variety.
4 ne beverage consists III ale anu
%. cad, and many kinds of wine,
daI'rved in silver tankards and Veuc-
soluan glasses.
The walters at the Earl'S table are
- ,antlcmcn of high birth, even the
- -ounger sons OF nohlemcn, who are
laced there to learn domestic Gus.
pms and all the intricate arrange
rLents of large house. UsherS,
tarshals, cup-bearcrS, are all OF
u INK, and without the perfect insight
Il alto domestic manners they thus
an racticablv obtained, they would be
tterly at the mercy of their numer-
us dependents, and unable to main
"' lin in order the hundred retainerS
nat may hereafter eat and drink
TEND be clothed at his expense, when
70 hey themselves become the heads OF
!. antilles.
:. Profound silence preserved during
Inner, :" for it is the greatest part
OF civility," save when some one
g Uses, and, first uncovering his head, |
= axes full cup in his hand, and,
citing his cOuntenance with grave
lSpect he Graves for audience ST. |
y ence being once obtained, he begins |
a o breathe out the name and perad-
5enture, OF some honorable person
age, whose health is drank to, and
,,le that pledges must likewise off
With his cap, kiss his fingers and bow
himself, in sign OF a Teverent aCcep-
vance. Aud thus the first scene is
llcted. The cup being newly replen,
shed to the breadth Of a hair-that
=, the pledger-muSt now begin h
part, and thus it goes round throug -
out the whole company.
The banquet over, the guests wash
their hands in rose water; and, leav-
ing the gentlemen to their wine, as
in the present day, the ladies' retire
to amuSe themselves with back gam
Tmon, cards, nine-pinS, fowls, and,
undoubtedly, the scandal OF Queen
Elizabcth's court. When the gen
'tlemen have c0utented themselves
with wine, well spiced, perhaps the
company go on hawking or hunt
Ing expedition, or engage in trial .
OF skill at archery or, if the com ,
pany be very numerous ami Of high
rank, Il bull OF bear may be baited to
death tor their amusement, the tair
laiies enjoying it quite as much as
the Spanish beauties of the present
day. At : o'clock supper is served
in the great hall, and resembles the
dinner on a much smaller scale. I
After supper the company amuSe y
themselves with dancing, chess,
draughtS, qai fray (hot hocklc) OF i
tiers (bllndman's buti) and other
games, now numbered only among
the sports of young children. AT 10 n
the bell summons TO the chapel.
Prayers are said by the chaplain,
and the household separates for the
night,