The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-08-12

rated from this building, by a.sfumbling
stone wall of great height was the ancient
monastery, which was now transformed
into an academy for the boys of Albion.
Both buildings were well-nigh covered
with beautiful clambering Ivy
The children of that day, in dress and
appearance, were exact miniature copies
of grown-up people.
Queen Elizabeth numbered 5000 robes
in her wardrobe, and the daughters of no.
blemen carried with them to school from
thirty to 300 dresses, according to the
wealth and station of their parents
Young misses of six and ten years of
and, at all times, appeared in long, point
ed waists, with deep ruttles around the
neck. Silk robes were embroidered with
serpents, and birds and ostriches in bright
ColOrs Handkerchiets were trimmed
with gold lace and sometimes ornamented
with dozen solid gold or silver buttons,
which must have been particularly nice
for young noses. Sleeves were worn sep
arate from their dresses, and often of diff
ferent material. Ladies' and children's
boots were made with heels two inches
high, which were called pantotles, and
both boots and slippers were frequently
trimmed with artificial flowers.
Young lads, also, wore sleeves of large
size and gay colors. Wigs had not, in
1870, become fashionable for children, but
their hair was often dyed. Carriers were
worn conspicuousiy by men and boys,
and were a test of rank and fashion. 1t is
on record that these articles, for state Oc-
casions, sometimes cost -four score
pound pair" equal TO some $3.50 Of our
money.
The tops of boots were of embroidered
linen, and shirts were often embroidered
in gold thread. In such apparel as this
tine school boys of that day played leap
frog and hunt the slipper, and other an
cient games.
The beds were the only comfortable arti-
cles of furniture then known, and were
frequently of such size as to accommodate
from twelve to twenty persons. Thus,
teacher could sleep with all his pupils
boys? One specimen of these bedstcads,
the great bed of Ware-of which Shake
speare makes mention--is still preserved
in England as a curiosity, and was, at one
time, the property of the late Charles
Dickens.
Hashes and stews formed the principal
food set before the schoolchildrcn whose
mode of life we are depicting and, rs
forks were not brought from Italy till
1880, and did not come into general use
for fifty years, they ate their stews and
hashes with the aid of pewter spoons and
their fingers.
Tablelinen was unknown, but on feast
days a narrow strip of Turkey carpeting
extended the length of the dining-table,
this being the only purpose for which car
peting was used wher first brought to En-
gland. Rushes were scattered upon the
floor, and the remnants of each meal were
thrown down to the dogs upon these rush
es, which we're renewed, as history tells
u.s. three or four times gear!
And now, perhaps, you will inquire
what were the studies pursued by the pu-
pills of Norwich Academy in the year
1870
Education was esteemed Of much less
importance than dress and amusements,
and, therefore, we mention this topic last
of all in our account of the good old
times"
The boys were taught Latin, Greek,
and figures" but we are told that the
young ladies could scarcely read. En-
brodery and working tapestry was the
principal occupation of the fair sex, and
the schoolgirls were taught "tO prepare
physic and make pastry; to dry herbs and
bind up wounds; to make banners and
scarfs, and to be obedient to their fathers,
brothers and lords"
Early marriages were frequent and
many of these Norwich school girls were
welded wives whose education must be
completed before they were taken home
to keep the keys and cut the bread and
rule retinue of servants-duties which
would be required of them in the castles
of their husbands.
Knitting became customary about this
time, and on the occasion OF the visit oil
Queen Elizabeth to Norwich, in 1870,
eight young girls walked in the process
sion that welcomed her, knitting yarn
hose, which were then a great curiosity.
Having thus ransacked the annals of the
past to bring before you this picture OF
the school children of the olden times, We
humbly submit to your consideration,
young readers of the st. Ntchot0s, the
question whether our republican boys
and girls are not more highly favored,
more sensibly dressed, and better educated
in every respect in our schools today than
were the children of English mobiles, with
all their wealth, power and prestige, 300
years ago.-S. s. Colt, in 81 NtchoEus
for august ...