Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-07-24
Written for this Paper.
" Merrie England"

The England Of 800 years ago was
universally called "Merrie," The res
pitc from war, after the end of the
"War on the Roses" was improved
by the English in increasing manutac-
lures, and promoting those arts of
peace which were all the more desired
and appreciated after the conflicts
about Legitimacy which for 50 long
a time had disturbed the body polite.
Consentaneous with this era of peace,
and connected with it, in respect to its
origin, was the epoch Of the disrup-
ton of the feudal system in England
and the advent of modern civilization.
The events of the Reformation, and of
the new order of civil affairs, introduc
ed under Henry the VIII, of that
name, were however only the opening
drops before a copious shower The
movements in Church and State then
inaugurated have not completed their
course. The modern framework of
society is far from complete adjust
ment, is far from having become ven
cradle and moribund. Many ques-
tions practical to-day, first were agi-
tated 800 years ago. Many social
and religious influences which are now
potent originated then. 1t is there
fore, with present interest, that we
study any works which throw special
light upon the era in English History,
when that ancient Isle was known as
the "Merrie England" Mr.. Froude,
in his recent work has departed from
the usual path Of historians and has
detailed much information upon ag-
ricultnral and manufacturing matters
1t will be interesting therefore, to tol-
low the author referred to, in some of
his accounts of the state of English
society 800 years ago.
The English Isle now contains over
10000, 700, 800 years ago, and for
several centuries previous it hard
ly exceeded 100000. In curious
book, by one Simon Fish, called the
oupplication Of Beggars," the num-
Der Of households is said to have been
in the year 1881, about $4,000. He
also reckons the parishes at $4,000
with ten households in each parish.
But these figures are altogether wide
Of the mark. One fact which retard-
ed the increase Of population, at this
time in England, was the peculiar rela
tion of laborers to their masters. AT
the present time a laborer earns as
much at twenty, if he be able bodied
as at forty years of age, and he is quite
liable to marry young, but in the era,
before the Reformation, not only were
early marriages discouraged, the OPP
portunity did not exist. AT present,
each laborer will have a cottage to
himself, but this was rarely the case,
in the olden time. AS in California,
on the ranches the farms in England
were enormous establishments. And
the servants at such farm would re
main single for many years, and mar
ry only when by prudence they had
saved a considerable sum of money
These facts, together with the constant
drain upon the population for military
purposes, contributed to keep the pop
ulation stationary as to numbers. In
deed it was not thought in that day, q
matter for congratulation, if the popu-
lation increased, for, thereby, there be
ing more to work, wages would be low
cred, and the general condition of thu
people be degraded. In this periot
manufacturers had attained a very
small developement. The mass ol