Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-09-03
Table Manners of Our Ancestors.

Table Manners of our AncestOrs.
Our saxon ancestors had some rude
customs about their meals, which are in
striking contrast with modern refinement.
To begin with, they had no table, but i'll
stead OF one board (borD which was
brought out for the occasion from some
place of storage, laid on the trestles, and
when the meal was ended, carefully put
away asain. This was called laying he
board. to which our similar expression
owes its origin and from the same source
comes our word "boarder"-one who sits
at the board TO eat.
The guests and family were summon
ed by horn, and after they were seated,
the cloth was spread; aud about this
they were extremely particular, but OF
what kind of fabric it was made does not
so clearly appear. 1t certainly was not
linen, for that was not introduced into
England for use until the reign Of Eliza.
beth. For long time carpets and pieces
of tapestry did service as coverings for
tables.
The use Of carpet for the floor does
not seem 10 have occurred to those easily
satisfied individuals who were willing TO
sleep on straw mat, with Il log under
their heads, or At best sack filled with
chaff or straw, for bolster. Floors
were strewn with rushes occasionally re-
newed as the accumulation Of rubbish
made it necessary. Among the items of
the time of crowning Isabel, queen OF
John, there is y charge OF thirty-throe
shilhngs for strewing Westminster Hall
with herbs and rushes. 1t is.this custom
which Shakespeare refers 10 in Tanning
OF the Shrew"-"Where's the cook Is
supper ready, the house trimmed, rHStes
streCed, cobwebs swept P"-and in other
plays.
Those were the days when they had
oiled paper or thinlY shaved pieces OF
horn in what they called windows, or the
openings were filled with strips Of wicker
interaced in checkcr-work ; when scarce
ly church even could boast of n pane Of
crystal, and when a nobleman, who had
thin layers of bsryl in hi. castle windows
was looked upon as very luxurious in his
tastes.
| Aftor tho cloth was arranged, the salt
cellar was set on, then knives Gf they
were so fortunate as to have any were
placed, the spoons, the drinking horns,
and the trenchers.
The salt-celar was the most important
article of all; very large, and made with
cover 1t is this latter popularity that
Shakespeare aludes 10, when he makes
Luance say The cover Of the salt hides
the salt, and therefore it is more than the
salt"
Where the host could afford it. it was
solid silver, elaborately chased; often
very substantial piece of plate, as costly
as his means would allow. And this &c.
counts for the greed with which Queen
Elizabeth once seized one. on occasion oil
visiting certain great official; she had
already received valusble gifts from him,
but before her departure she "tOok salt,
n spoon, and fork of fair agate"
The salt-celar occupied tho place OF
honor at tho table, and The most dis
tnguished persons sat above it. To s.t
'below the salt" means to be in the posi-
ton of an inferior.
The meats were brought in on spits
just as they were cooked, ,ard in that way
were passed round by the servants tD the
guests, who, in the moro barbarous times,
tore off u portion as best they could
Afterwards, when they had advanced
little in their ideas, there was carver
who held the meat with one hand while
be cut with the other; and the guests
helped themselves using their hands,
and after they had devoured what they
wished, threw the bones to the dogs and
cats that waited under the table and
scrambled tor their share among the
rushes. Naturally enough, every ono
was expected TO wash his hands before
coming to the "board," and certainly it
was needed afterwards.
A few had knives, shaped like razor,
but forks were unknown. Even the great
Elizabeth ate with her fingers. In her
reign, however, commerce was extended,
and luxuries began to appear, porcelain
and glasses instead OF pewter mugs to
drink from, and in her bathroom she had
mirrors, and this was considered great
extravaganza. Her immense and lofty
rooms were meagre and cheerless enough
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