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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