The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-25


tresses and healing their sicknesses. The
monasterles, moreover. served the purpose OF
inns 10 the wnyiarer none being refused food
or lodging. DO his quality whatit might
or the doines at the birth. marriage. or
burial Of the Normans in England We have
but scant Information. We get glimpse.
however. Of the conditions NJ early childhood
from a treatise written at the close oil the
thirteenth century. which describes with
quaint minutenoss the various stages Of
child's upbrineing. Marriage seems to have
been. IN general. the outcome OF affection on
both sides Being a sacra m ent, the ceremony
necessarily took place In church; fenst
was made, with dancing nfterward. and the
young couple were frequently conducted TO
bed by their friends. while the nuptial couch
was sprlnkled with holy water by priest
or Bishop. Passing TO the subject OF death
and burial. We learn that the CORPSE
was we'll and decently shrouded. then put In
CONN. which was the same width all its length.
the lid being som etimes COPIED and ornamented
with a cross. The corrse was watched BY
priests and the intern tent was reverently per-
formed with incense. &c. As regards educa-
ton Il seems that schoolhoys were taught the
classics and logic. and the reading. writing.
and speaking OF Latin constituted the common
stamp Of both the gentleman and the cleric. In
nestle schools the bows wero also taught the
manners fitted for a gentleman. howto demean
and carry themselves. their conduct In pres
ence Of others. and at table. Norman-Fr
the language Of romance and OF the min
atrels, was theirs by birth. and It was expected
that n gentleman should know how to use
some instrument OF music. Athletics. riding.
and all manly exercises were praetised as
matter OF course. The girls learned reading
and writing. together with music and house
wifery. which included n smattering OF medi-
cine and surgery. Spinning. embroidery. and
romance reading when book could be got.
filled up the leisure moments OF the Norman
WON en-. and. for those OF good social position.
there were riding and hawking. They had their
nets to amuse them. birds. lapdogs. and deli
cate little Italian grsyhounds. They were very
fond OF dancing. and their gardens must have
been great source OF enjoyment.
"A time went on the Norman mobiles became
less abstemious in the matter Of food. A con-
Temporary gives us the menu OF one OF the
| royal feasts. He says that. first was brought
in a boar's head. with its tusks In its snout
Rarnished with flowers. and then venison or
furmenty. cranes. pescocks. and swans wild
| geese kids. pigs. and hens. The third course
was OF spiced and seasoned meats. with wine.
both red and white. Then came pheasants.
woodcocks. partridges. larks. and plovors
with Drawn anu other things. after which
white powder tsvidently sugar. and large
| syeetmeats were served. The beverages
| included not only the wines OF tho
Rhine. Lorraine Gascony. and Spain.
but rose wine. fruty wine. Glove wine.
| cider. perry. beer. ale. and mead. besides
clary and piment. which were compounded
Of white wine. honey. and spices The luxury
| in eating eventually practised by the mobiles
was followed by those OF humber station to
such an extent that Henry III. ordained that
| than two
| dishes should be served at one meal. Especi-
| ally yere there com plants OF the lavish living
| in certain monasteries. and contemporary
chronicler tells the following story OF the prior
| and monks OF ST. Swithin. at Winchester:
| They threw themselves PROSTATE at the feet
Of King Henry H.. and with many tears In
| formed him that the Bishop OF tho diocese to
which they were subject had withdrawn from
them three OF the usual number Of their
dishes Henry inquired how many still re-
NAMED. and. being informed that they had
| ten. he said that he himself was con-
| tented with three. and imprecated u curse
| on the Bishop II he did not reduce them
| to that mum ber." In their methods OF eating.
| the Normans were more refined than the
Auglo-Saxons had been. Tho dinner table
| was laid with a fair white cloth. upon which
were set bowls with broth and boiled fowls
and fish: each person had cup and round
or cake OF bread which served as trencher
or to cut on. The Normans had clearly
habit Of washing their hands before and after
meals: this was necessary. as they had no
forks. and we're obliged to put their food into
their mouths with their AngerM A knife. OF
course. they had and each cut what he thought
ut from the Joint offered to him. depositing
the piece on a slice OF bread or cake. upon
which he cut 1t into smaller portions. eating
the bread last