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Show Noble op the time of Hesry VII rhe mode ot living rnjy be somewhat understood by reference to an old booh quite precious in the sight of the antiquarians, antiqua-rians, the household book of an Eari of Northumberland. It appears the old Earl bad a large family. It consisted of only six hundred and sixty six persons ; master? and servants. Fifty was the average numbs num-bs of his daily guests. There was a very precise sumptuary code and given out ia parcels and by rule. From midsummer to Michaelmas, fresh meat was allowed; fox the rest of the year, salted provisions was alone admissable. Mustard was in great demand. One hundred and sixty gallons a year were used at a table no doubt the character of the fresh and salt meat required re-quired a potent stimultia to make it go down. One bottle and a third of small beet was given to each person daily. Ne sheets for the beds were used. The tabla cloths were few, they were changed but once a month, and washing days were rare I Ninety-one dozen of candles served th family for a year candles, which, if lighted all at once, one of Couthoay and Nerer'a Bolar lamps would probably outshine. The family rose at six in the morning, dined at ten and supper at four. The Earl andiis lady had at their breakfast break-fast something cotter than the rest, via : a, quart of beer and a quart of wine, two pieces of salt fish, and six red herring, and a dish of sprsts 1 From the sketch of the Interior of the house of a noble and wealthy personage, we may infer how the poor existed, ia we have said before, there ia not a meohanio who earns five hundred dollars a year, thai doe not live more respectably and 00m-fortably 00m-fortably than most of the old English batons. - |