The Yazoo sentinel. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1878-1916, 1891-08-27
THE SAXON HOUSE.
How the Englishmen Lived in
Ancient Times.


The house, either in Saxon or Norman
time, presented no kind Of resemblance
TO the Roman villa. 1t had no cloisters.
no hypocaust, no suite or sequence OF
rooms This unlikeness is another proof,
II any were wanting, that continuity Of
tenure was wholly broken. If the Saxons
went into London, as has been suggested.
peaceabiy, and left the people to carry
on their old life and their trade In their
own way, the Roman and British archi-
lecture, no new thing, but Il style grown
up in. course Of years and found fitted to
the climate, would certainly have re !
manned That, however was not the
case. The Englishman developed his
house from the patriarchal idea. First
there was the common hall ia this the
household lived, led, transacted bust
ness, aud made their cheer ii 1Ao even-
II sasrlES Dllift IT SxalAA as sa.,gls ls
keep out the cold draughts ii was lingdl
with tapestry .sat FIRST simple cloths,
which in great houses were embroidered
and painted: pcrches OF various kinds
we're affixed to the walls, whcreon the
weapons, the musical Instruments. the
cloaks, etc, were hung. The Lord and
Lady sat In q high seat not, | am In
.clined to think, on dais at the end Of
the hall, which would have been cold
for them, but ont great chair near the
fire, which was burning in the middle of
the hall. / have myself seen college
hall warmed by FIRE in brazier burning
under the lantern OF the hail. The furni-
ture consisted of benches the table
was laid on trestles, spread with white
cloth, and removed after dinner. The
hall was open to all who came, on con-
dition that the guest left his weapons at
the door. The floor was covered with
reeds, which made clean, soft, and
warm carpet, on which the company
could, If they pleased, lie round the fire.
They had carpets or rugs also, but reeds
were commonly used The traveller who
CHANGED to find himself at the ancient
town Of Kingston-on Hull, which very
lew English people, and still fewer
Americans, have the curiosity to explore,
should visit the Trinity House. There,
anon & manTinteresting things, he will
lind a hall where reeds are still spread,
but no longer so thickly as to form a
complete carpet. The times of meals
were the breakfast at about nine; the
moon meat, or dinner, at twelve; and
the "even meat, or supper, probably
at a movable time depending on the
length Of the day. When lighting was
costly and candles were scarce. the hours
Of sleep would be naturally longer in
winter than in the summer. Ia their
manner Of living the Saxons were fond
Of vegetables, especially OF che lcek.
onion, and garlic. Beans they also had
these were introduced probably at the
time when they commenced intercourse
with the outer world, pease, radishes,
Eurnips, parsley, mint, sage, cress. rue.
md other herbs. They had nearly ali |
,ur modern fruits, though many show By /
heir names, which are Latin or Norman.
J later Introduction. They made use OF /
)utter. honey, and cheese. They drank
lie and mead. The latter is still made.
,ut in small quantities, in Somefsetshire.
The Norman brought over the custom Of
thinking wine. Harper's Magazine.