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第11章

the life of thomas telford-第11章

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About a century later; in 1700; the Rev。  Mr。 Brome; rector of

Cheriton in Kent; entered upon a series of travels in England as if

it had been a newly…discovered country。  He set out in spring so

soon as the roads had become passable。  His friends convoyed him on

the first stage of his journey; and left him; commending him to the

Divine protection。  He was; however; careful to employ guides to

conduct him from one place to another; and in the course of his

three years' travels he saw many new and wonderful things。  He was

under the necessity of suspending his travels when the winter or

wet weather set in; and to lay up; like an arctic voyager; for

several months; until the spring came round again。  Mr。 Brome

passed through Northumberland into Scotland; then down the western

side of the island towards Devonshire; where he found the farmers

gathering in their corn on horse…back; the roads being so narrow

that it was impossible for them to use waggons。  He desired to

travel into Cornwall; the boundaries of which he reached; but was

prevented proceeding farther by the rains; and accordingly he made

the best of his way home。*'1'  The vicar of Cheriton was considered

a wonderful man in his day; almost as as venturous as we should

now regard a traveller in Arabia。  Twenty miles of slough; or an

unbridged river between two parishes; were greater impediments to

intercourse than the Atlantic Ocean now is between England and

America。  Considerable towns situated in the same county; were then

more widely separated; for practical purposes; than London and

Glasgow are at the present day。 There were many districts which

travellers never visited; and where the appearance of a stranger

produced as great an excitement as the arrival of a white man in an

African village。*'2'



The author of 'Adam Bede' has given us a poet's picture of the

leisure of last century; which has 〃gone where the spinning…wheels

are gone; and the pack…horses; and the slow waggons; and the

pedlars who brought bargains to the door on sunny afternoons。  〃Old

Leisure〃 lived chiefly in the country; among pleasant seats and

homesteads; and was fond of sauntering by the fruit…tree walls; and

scenting the apricots when they were warmed by the morning

sunshine; or sheltering himself under the orchard boughs at noon;

when the summer pears were falling。〃  But this picture has also its

obverse side。 Whole generations then lived a monotonous; ignorant;

prejudiced; and humdrum life。  They had no enterprize; no energy;

little industry; and were content to die where they were born。  The

seclusion in which they were compelled to live; produced a

picturesqueness of manners which is pleasant to look back upon; now

that it is a thing of the past; but it was also accompanied with a

degree of grossness and brutality much less pleasant to regard; and

of which the occasional popular amusements of bull…running;

cock…fighting; cock…throwing; the saturnalia of Plough…Monday; and

such like; were the fitting exponents。



People then knew little except of their own narrow district。  The

world beyond was as good as closed against them。  Almost the only

intelligence of general affairs which reached them was communicated

by pedlars and packmen; who were accustomed to retail to their

customers the news of the day with their wares; or; at most; a

newsletter from London; after it had been read nearly to pieces at

the great house of the district; would find its way to the village;

and its driblets of information would thus become diffused among

the little community。  Matters of public interest were long in

becoming known in the remoter districts of the country。  Macaulay

relates that the death of Queen Elizabeth was not heard of in some

parts of Devon until the courtiers of her successor had ceased to

wear mourning for her。  The news of Cromwell's being made Protector

only reached Bridgewater nineteen days after the event; when the

bells were set a…ringing; and the churches in the Orkneys continued

to put up the usual prayers for James II。  three months after he

had taken up his abode at St。 Germains。  There were then no shops

in the smaller towns or villages; and comparatively few in the

larger; and these were badly furnished with articles for general

use。  The country people were irregularly supplied by hawkers; who

sometimes bore their whole stook upon their back; or occasionally

on that of their pack…horses。 Pots; pans; and household utensils

were sold from door to door。 Until a comparatively recent period;

the whole of the pottery…ware manufactured in Staffordshire was

hawked about and disposed of in this way。  The pedlars carried

frames resembling camp…stools; on which they were accustomed to

display their wares when the opportunity occurred for showing them

to advantage。  The articles which they sold were chiefly of a

fanciful kindribbons; laces; and female finery; the housewives'

great reliance for the supply of general clothing in those days

being on domestic industry。



Every autumn; the mistress of the household was accustomed to lay

in a store of articles sufficient to serve for the entire winter。

It was like laying in a stock of provisions and clothing for a

siege during the time that the roads were closed。  The greater part

of the meat required for winter's use was killed and salted down at

Martinmas; while stockfish and baconed herrings were provided for

Lent。 Scatcherd says that in his district the clothiers united in

groups of three or four; and at the Leeds winter fair they would

purchase an ox; which; having divided; they salted and hung the

pieces for their winter's food。*'3'  There was also the winter's

stock of firewood to be provided; and the rushes with which to

strew the floorscarpets being a comparatively modern invention;

besides; there was the store of wheat and barley for bread; the

malt for ale; the honey for sweetening (then used for sugar); the

salt; the spiceries; and the savoury herbs so much employed in the

ancient cookery。  When the stores were laid in; the housewife was

in a position to bid defiance to bad roads for six months to come。

This was the case of the well…to…do; but the poorer classes; who

could not lay in a store for winter; were often very badly off both

for food and firing; and in many hard seasons they literally

starved。  But charity was active in those days; and many a poor

man's store was eked out by his wealthier neighbour。



When the household supply was thus laid in; the mistress; with her

daughters and servants; sat down to their distaffs and spinning…wheels;

for the manufacture of the family clothing was usually the work of

the winter months。  The fabrics then worn were almost entirely of

wool; silk and cotton being scarcely known。  The wool; when not

grown on the farm; was purchased in a raw state; and was carded;

spun; dyed; and in many cases woven at home: so also with the linen

clothing; which; until quite a recent date; was entirely the

produce of female fingers and household spinning…wheels。  This kind

of work occupied the winter months; occasionally alternated with

knitting; embroidery; and tapestry  work。  Many of our country

houses continue to bear witness to the steady industry of the

ladies of even the highest ranks in those times; in the fine

tapestry hangings with which the walls of many of the older rooms

in such mansions are covered。



Among the humbler classes; the same winter's work went on。

The women sat round log fires knitting; plaiting; and spinning by

fire…light; even in the daytime。  Glass had not yet come into

general use; and the openings in the wall which in summer…time

served for windows; had necessarily to be shut close with boards to

keep out the cold; though at the same time they shut out the light。

The chimney; usually of lath and plaster; ending overhead in a cone

and funnel for the smoke; was so roomy in old cottages as to

accommodate almost the w

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