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£º¡¡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¡¡whole¡¡family¡¡sitting¡¡around¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡of¡¡logs
piled¡¡in¡¡the¡¡reredosse¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡they¡¡carried¡¡on
their¡¡winter's¡¡work¡£
Such¡¡was¡¡the¡¡domestic¡¡occupation¡¡of¡¡women¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rural¡¡districts¡¡in
olden¡¡times£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡may¡¡perhaps¡¡be¡¡questioned¡¡whether¡¡the
revolution¡¡in¡¡our¡¡social¡¡system£»¡¡which¡¡has¡¡taken¡¡out¡¡of¡¡their¡¡hands
so¡¡many¡¡branches¡¡of¡¡household¡¡manufacture¡¡and¡¡useful¡¡domestic
employment£»¡¡be¡¡an¡¡altogether¡¡unmixed¡¡blessing¡£
Winter¡¡at¡¡an¡¡end£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡roads¡¡once¡¡more¡¡available¡¡for¡¡travelling£»
the¡¡Fair¡¡of¡¡the¡¡locality¡¡was¡¡looked¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡with¡¡interest¡£¡¡¡¡Fairs
were¡¡among¡¡the¡¡most¡¡important¡¡institutions¡¡of¡¡past¡¡times£»¡¡and¡¡were
rendered¡¡necessary¡¡by¡¡the¡¡imperfect¡¡road¡¡communications¡£¡¡The¡¡right
of¡¡holding¡¡them¡¡was¡¡regarded¡¡as¡¡a¡¡valuable¡¡privilege£»¡¡conceded¡¡by
the¡¡sovereign¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lords¡¡of¡¡the¡¡manors£»¡¡who¡¡adopted¡¡all¡¡manner¡¡of
devices¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡crowds¡¡to¡¡their¡¡markets¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡usually¡¡held¡¡at
the¡¡entrances¡¡to¡¡valleys¡¡closed¡¡against¡¡locomotion¡¡during¡¡winter£»
or¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡rich¡¡grazing¡¡districts£»¡¡or£»¡¡more¡¡frequently£»¡¡in
the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡of¡¡famous¡¡cathedrals¡¡or¡¡churches¡¡frequented¡¡by
flocks¡¡of¡¡pilgrims¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡devotion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡being¡¡turned¡¡to
account£»¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fairs¡¡were¡¡held¡¡on¡¡Sundays¡¡in¡¡the¡¡churchyards£»
and¡¡almost¡¡in¡¡every¡¡parish¡¡a¡¡market¡¡was¡¡instituted¡¡on¡¡the¡¡day¡¡on
which¡¡the¡¡parishioners¡¡were¡¡called¡¡together¡¡to¡¡do¡¡honour¡¡to¡¡their
patron¡¡saint¡£
The¡¡local¡¡fair£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡usually¡¡held¡¡at¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡or¡¡end¡¡of
winter£»¡¡often¡¡at¡¡both¡¡times£»¡¡became¡¡the¡¡great¡¡festival¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as
market¡¡of¡¡the¡¡district£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡business¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡the¡¡gaiety¡¡of
the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡usually¡¡centred¡¡on¡¡such¡¡occasions¡£¡¡¡¡High¡¡courts
were¡¡held¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Bishop¡¡or¡¡Lord¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Manor£»¡¡to¡¡accommodate¡¡which
special¡¡buildings¡¡were¡¡erected£»¡¡used¡¡only¡¡at¡¡fair¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡Among¡¡the
fairs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡class¡¡in¡¡England¡¡were¡¡Winchester£»¡¡St¡£¡¡Botolph's
Town¡¡£¨Boston£©£»¡¡and¡¡St¡£¡¡Ives¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡find¡¡the¡¡great¡¡London¡¡merchants
travelling¡¡thither¡¡in¡¡caravans£»¡¡
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü