The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-03-17
Some Saxon Customs.


perhaps, to use the term table man
ners about a people who had no tables
strictly speaking, but a board that
when required, was brought out from
its place of storage and placed upon
trestles, and on this, after covering
with a 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 i'm
portant article upon the table. 1t
was very large, made with cover,
and when the host could afford it,
was of solid silver elaborateIy chased.
1t occupied the place of honor on the
table, and the most distinguished
guests sat above it. Thus Ito sit be-
low 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 pOr-
tion as best they could. When they
were little further advanced in civ
ilization there was carver who held
the meat in one hand while he cut
with the other. The guests helped
themselves, using their hands, throw
ing the bones and refuse to the dogs
and casts, of which there was a
goodly number, and which scram-
bled for their share among the
rushes. 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 extended and luXurieS
began to appear porcelains and
glasses to drink from instead of pew.
ter mugs. In her bathroom she had
mirrors, and this was considered a
great extravaganza.
Al first, two persons ate from one
"trencher." The 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 -four, 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 al
liberty to eat his plate, which was
found to be quite palatable in conse
quence of having soaked up the
gravy; if he did not choose to de-
YOUR 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 al
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 elab
orately carved or ornamented with
gold and silver, and considered 8
very valuable article among a man.
possessions. The drinking horn was
often left by will, as in later times
people bequeated snuff boxes and as
now they might dispose of a valuable
watch or diamond ring.
In the transfer of land, before the
custom of witnessing by seal was in
troduced, the owner gave something
in pledge as an assurance or token o
the contract, and in such cases it was
not uncommon to make use of tht
drinking horn for this purpose. One
family held their estate from Canutt
by his drinking horn. This was theil
sole proof. One can get from this
fact an idea of the value which wa'
attached to this article of persona
property. Probably the expression
taking a horn could be traced bacE
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 al
upright position, therefore it becam,
necessary as soon as they were filled
to swallow their contents at once
From their propensity to tumbl
over is said to have come our wort
"tumbler," as applied to a drinkin;
glass.
They were seated in the balcony
|, and he, the ardent and romantic lov
} er, was breathing impassioned senti
ment into the ears of the peerless bu
| d., In