The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-05-16
Haddon Hall.

/
gates we observe in the granite threshold the
deep impress of a human foot, worn into the
stone by the multitudinous steppings of
mailed heels, ladies' slippers, pilgrims san
dals, troopers boots, and the leather soles of
the men and women of our times. The check
cred life of changing centuries has tided back
and forth across this stony threshold AS we
stand in the shadows of these ancient walls
we realize the force of the apostles words,
"The fashion of this world passeth away
These grim battlements have calmly resisted
the assaults of the wintry storms and the sum-
mer heat of over six hundred years, while un-
numbered generations have started into life,
acted their brief parts in the drama of human
history, and then quickly vanished into the
hushed night shades of oblivion. Surely imam
cometh forth as flower and is cut down; he
heeth also as a shadow and continueth not "
The first thing that strikes the eye on enter
ing this gloomy archway, leading into the in
ner court, is an enormous iron hoop hanging
on the wall 1t is said to have belonged to a
mash tub. A few steps further on our "sweet
guide" blooming English lass, fresh and
modest as a rose, calls our attention to the
musty guard room of the sturdy porter of
we oden time on the right side of the arch
way, just within the massive nail-studded
door. There is his peep-hole," and here is
Cn0 IfdlneWOrk OF Ills D6USteGu, anu the IRE
place that gave him comfort when keeping
watch and ward.
Passing through the archway we step out
into the first or lower courtyard, where we see
around US the chief features of this once gay
but now deserted baronial residence grand in
its solitude and attractive in its very loneliness.
All certainly this is noble edifce and as we
fit ON from room to room, from court to
court, and from tower to tower, in magma
ton peopling them with those who once
''lived, and moved and had their being " in
this ancient pile, care ready to cry out: It
is
81 Pleasant to see this English hall.
OF the olden times on summers day;
Turret, and tower, and buttress and WALL
Shining and Swallowed. in green and gray,
Strange to think of those times of old.
And of those who lived there-only tale
Doubtlngly, dlmly guessed'and told,
Of chatelains fair and knights in mail.
Though the place remains, where they lived
and died,
Seen as they saw it by you and me,
The scenes of their lives, of their griefs, and
their pride,
Telling its tale Enthusiastically.
The light still shines through the latticed pane,
As it shone to them, and the Swallowed
Is the shadow they saw, and the stains remain
Of the wine they spilled on the dais floor.
The river that runs by the old halls walls,
Murmured to them as it murmurs now
The golden glow of the sunset falls.
As it fell for them on glade, river and
Dough.
The hall where they feasted the church where
they prayed,
Their cradles. and chambers, and grave
stones stay
While lord and vassal, youth and maid
Knight and lady, have passed away"
Erov, 4bo Iorvar oo,,r+ ,,,r f,;r o,ida 1aodc
us into the chaplain's room, a large, low, dim
ly lighted apartment, with great, cavernous-
looking fireplace. The chaplain is not in as
we now visit his room,-he stepped out sew
eral hundred years ago. We will not wait for
his return but will simply leave our cards.
Among the articles of interest in this apart
ment are pair of remarkably fine fire-dogs,
wardens horn, gigantic jack-boots (rather
large for modern clergyman, thick leather
doublet, some clumsy match-locks, and a
lot of pewter beer mugs, which we hope the
chaplain never used, cradle and number of
rusty swords.
| In this room, few years ago, remarkably
curious and interesting washing tally was
found behind the wainscoting. 1t is 81 inches
long, a inches wide, formed of a piece of
beech wood quarter of an inch thick and
covered with linen. Its construction is pre-
| clSely IuaC OF u uOTu DOOk. III front luo
names of the different articles of clothing are
printed from a copper plate and protected by
sheet of horn. Around the edge strip of
thin brass, fastened down with highly orna-
mented nails, attaches the horn, the paper,
and the linen to the wood. The tally" is
divided into fifteen squares, in each of which
is dial numbered from 0 to II, and above
each square is the name of the article of cloth
ing intended to be taken into account These
are "ruffes," ''bandes," "cuffes," "hand-
kercher, scapps, y shirtes y" half shirtes, "
" boothose," "topps, " sockes," g heetes, :"
'pillowberes, 4" table-clothes, " 60 napkins "
and towels" On each of the dials is a
circular brass indicator fastened by little
pin in the center, so ss to be turned round at
pleasure Each indicator is pierced on one
side close to the edge with round hole
through which one number only on the dial is
visible, and opposite to this hole is raised
point by which the indicator can be turned as
required This interesting relic belonged to
the time of Charles |, and is of extreme rar-
ity.
From the chaplain's room we naturally go
into the chapel, only few steps off. 1t is a
queer little place; at the entrance is st0up
or holy water basin, and a staircase from the
east end of the north aisle leads up to the
rood loft and the turret. Against one of the
great stone pillars which support the massive
roof is Norman font on which is a curiously
constructed cover. The chancel is slightly
raised above the nave, and on each is a large
high pew with an open railing in its upper
portions. These have been used by the noble
1