The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-02-25
SOME SAXON CUSTOMS.
How Our Remote ancestors Ate, Drank
and Transferred Real Estate.


and Transferred Real Estate.
1t seems somewhat paradoxical, per-
haps, to use the term table manners
about people who had no tables
strictly speaking, but board that,
when required. was brought out from
its place of storage and placed upon
trestles, and on this. after covering
with piece of carpet or tapestry, the
meal was placed. From this source
comes our word "boarder;" one who
sits at our board to eat, but who is not
of the family.
The salt-cellar was the most inn
portant article upon the table. 1t was
very large, made with cover and.
when the host could afford it, was of
solid silver deliberately chased. 1t oc-
cupied the place of honor on the table,
and the most distinguished guests
sat above it. Thus ito sit below the
salt" shows the position of an inferior.
The meats were brought in on spits,
just as they were cooked, and in that
way passed around by the servants to
the guests, who in the more barbarous
times tore off a portion as best they
could. When they were little further
advanced in civilization there was a
carver who held the meat in one hand
while he cut with the other The guests
helped themselves, using their hands,
throwing the bones and refuse to the
dogs and cats. of which there was
goodly number, and which scrambled
for their share among the rushcs. A
few had knives shaped like razors, but
forks were unknown. Even the great
Elizabeth ate with her fingers. In her
reign, however. commerce was extend
cd and luXuries began to appear; porce-
lains and glasses to drink from instead
of pewter mugs. In her bathroom she
had mirrors, and this was considered
great extravaganza.
At first, two persons ate from one
"trencher" These trenchers were
nothing more than huge slice of
bread. Two qualities of bread were
made; one fine, to be eaten; the other
of coarse, inferior flour, which was cut
in substantial slices and used as plates.
After the meal was ended, if the guest
or member of the family was unusually
hungry he was at liberty to eat his
plate, which was found to be quite pal
atable in consequence of having soaked
up the gravy; if he did not choose to
devour it, it was placed in the aims
basket, which was always to be found
in the dining hall and into which was
gathered the broken food and sent out
to the poor waiting at the gate.
When plates first came into use the
rich provided themselves with hand
some silver ones, while the poorer
classes had to be content with those
made of pewter or wood.
Every one had his drinking horn or
cup. Usually it was horn deliberately
carved and ornamented with gold and
silver, and considered very valuable
article among a mans possessions.
The drinking horn was often left by
will, as in later times people be-
queathed snuff boxes and as now they
might dispose of valuable watch or
diamond ring.
In the transfer of land, before the
custom of witnessing by seal was intro
duced, the owner gave something in
pledge as an assurance or token of the
contract, and in such cases it was not
uncommon to make use of the drinking
horn for this purpose. One family held
their estate from Canute by his drink
ing horn. This was their sole proof
One can get from this fact an idea of
the value which was attached to this
article of personal property. Probably
the expression taking horn" could
be traced back to the use of this form
of drinking utensil, for they were so
fashioned, as were the first drinking
glasses also, that they could not be
placed in an upright position. therefore
1t became necessary as soon as they
were filled 20 swallow their contents at
once. From their propensity to tumble
over is said to have come our word
lumber" as applied to drinking
glass. Philips, in Current