图书图片
PDF
ePub

what system of government did they live?

12. I remember, too, something of the laws of this period; how a certain assembly of wise men used to meet, and think, and make laws. What was that assembly called?

country was not divided into small lots called allotments, but into larger lots called baronies; and the barons did not have cottages in the midst of their lands as the churls had, but they lived in castles; the cottages were clustered around the 13. I remember, too, some castles. Do you remember that laws about trial and punish-system of government? If you ment, which, in these days, we do, please tell me— do not think at all wise-we call them "superstitions." Do you remember them?

14. And I remember how a missionary came from Rome to England. What was his name?

15. And, how, after that, there were plenty of bishops and priests, some of whom used to practise a trade. What was the name of the archbishop who was a smith, and could paint patterns for ladies' dresses, and work all kinds of metals? He made two bells for the church at Abingdon.

16. Tell me something about the Danes; their country, their manners, their habits.

17. Who was the first Danish king of England?

18. There was a king who introduced a new system of government into the country. Hear how he did it! 1st, He served the Saxons just as they had served the Britons. He said to them, "You are conquered!" and then he took their land away from them, making them work on their wn property.

Just as the Britons had been made slaves. and called "Thralls," so the Saxons were called "Vassals." There was, however, this difference-the

it?

1st, What king introduced

2nd, Where did he come from?

3rd, What was the system called?

19. Before we talk of the effect of this system, a word or two on its cause. Do you remember why the barbarians could not hold "comitatus" so often, and what the chief gained by this? Do you remember how they first learned to pay their men with money, and why we now call fighting-men "soldiers"? Do you not see, also, how, when the men were paid, they were not independent, and that they did not receive their allotments as their own? If you have forgotten these things, it will be well to look back at the lesson.*

20. There were several reasons why this feudal system was a bad one. Pray tell me

[blocks in formation]

THE ENGLISH TRAVELLER.

THE LONDONERS.-WATER, FIRE, AND, LIGHT.

130 London sewers, is poured into it;

666

'So, about the end of Queen Elizabeth's reign (the beginning of the seventeenth century) a better plan was thought of. A

"MY DEAR CHILDREN,— "What a long account of the Londoners did my friend give me that morning! He only answered two questions-How do the Londoners earn their daily bread?' and, 'How are the Lon-Welsh gentleman determined to doners fed?

666

'Thirdly,' said my friend, 'How are the Londoners supplied with water, fire, and light?"

"WATER.-Before the great fire of London, when the Londoners required any water, they used to go to the brooks, for there were brooks running through the principal parts of the city. But when the inhabitants became very numerous, the brooks did not yield enough, and continually became surrounded by the new houses which sprung up. Then the people thought that they would procure water from elsewhere, and in the thirteenth century they brought it from a place called Tyburn. It was conveyed through leaden pipes into large cisterns, called conduits. So the people went to the conduits instead of the brooks, and drew as much water as they pleased. "Water was also procured from the river Thames; there were great water-wheels at London Bridge, which at one time raised 45,000 hogsheads per day; but the Thames water is not, and was not then, good for drinking. In the present day, the refuse outpourings of many cities, and the filth from

ex

bring a river into London instead of the pipes. He found two pure springs in Hertfordshire, and formed an artificial river nearly forty miles in length; which was a work of immense difficulty and enormous pence. Although the gentleman, whose name was Hugh Myddelton, was very rich (for he was a goldsmith and a miner), he spent nearly all his property. Before he had finished, he was obliged to get help from King James I., for the whole cost of the work was about £500,000. At the completion, Mr. Myddelton was knighted-that is to say, he was called "Sir Hugh Myddelton," and his river was called the "New River." The New River Company supply the greatest quantity of water to London. But there are many other water companies now, and even ten years ago they supplied together 44,383,329 gallons of water per day.

666

"Water might be procured not only from the rivers, but from the springs under the London clay.'

"But do the people want more water?' I asked.

"Yes,' said my friend, 'in

Lord Mayor, lanterns were hung across the streets. In the course of time, glass lamps also were used. These lamps

deed they do. Think how much teresting part of its history. water is wanted to clean such a In the fifteenth century, about mighty place as London! And, the time when Whittington when fires happen, water is was wanted to extinguish them; water is also wanted for the numerous manufactures; so that besides all that is required for the different houses, twice as much is used for other purposes.' "Very good!' I replied. 'Now tell me where the people get all their firing from. From the coal mines, I suppose?'

and lanterns were helped by certain link-boys, who bobbed about the streets with flaming torches. The old watchmen also used to carry lanterns, and nearly all steady persons, when they went out in the evening, took their lanterns with them.

"But at the beginning of the present century there came an invention which quite outshone all these things."

Ion. Ah! I know what he means-gas! Is it? L. Let me read, then you will hear.

"True; but let us begin at the beginning. More than 500 years ago, coal began to be used in London. In the year 1316, the notion got abroad that the burning of coal was injurious to the health; and Parliament was petitioned to prohibit its use. Thirty years ago, no less than 1,500,000 tons per annum were used; but now, nearly 4,000,000 tons are burned every year. The enormous increase is in conse-out any wick-and never requence of the gas used for quired snuffing. Neither did lighting the streets, and the fuel the new lamps require cleaning. used for the engines of the This was the light of GAS. railways and steamboats.'

“How are such quantities brought to London?' I asked.

"In different ways. It was till lately brought principally in ships called colliers. But now it is brought by railway. This year the Great Northern Coal Company has been selling coals to the London people at one-third less than before."

W. I think that that is very good of the railway-engines. Although they do eat so much coal, they make it cheaper.

L. "The manner in which London is lighted is an in

"There came a new light, brighter than any that had yet been seen-which burned with

"The first gas-lights invented themselves. The most remarkable was that in the colliery at Whitehaven in Cumberland. While the miners were at work, a rush of strange-smelling air came past their candle, and burst into a jovial flame. It flamed away in such style, that the miners were frightened and ran off. But although the flame was six feet high and a yard broad, it burnea in so orderly a manner, that they took courage, and flapped it with their hats; then it went out. This was one of the first

great gas-lights. But though it went out, curiously enough, it came in again whenever the candle came; so the only way to get it "out" in earnest was to get it outside the mine. Accordingly, a great tube was made to convey it up to the very surface of the earth. The gas, being light, was easily coaxed to go up there; so when it reached the air, it flamed away as brightly as before, and all the people went to see it. The first account given of it says that it had then been burning two years and nine months, without any decrease! So gaslight invented itself." "

W. So it did! But how did it get to London?

L. You shall hear. (Reading.) "London is not the first place where gas was burned. It made its first appearance before the public at Birmingham. In the year 1802, when the English nation was celebrating the return of peace, the gaslight was burned in the front of a great factory, where it made all the other illuminations look dim. Of course thousands of people came, and the report of it spread in the newspapers; and scientific men talked about it, and the people made experiments with it. It is said that, "all over the kingdom, coal was distilled in tobacco-pipes at the fire-side."

the

"But you have not brought

gas into LONDON, yet.' "Now, I am coming. It did not reach the great city very quickly. It was not until the year 1807 that it was burned in London streets. Being a new

invention, it had its enemies as well as its friends. It was found to have a bad smell, to cause head-ache, to spoil all the good furniture, and the colour of the curtains. But a certain good German, named Winsor, became its friend. He purified and improved it, and gave lectures about it, and established a great National Light and Heat Company, and raised £50,000, and spent it all; and at last raised a long row of lights in PALL MALL, the famous street at the West End.'

"Then the people were astonished!' I said.

"Of course. But, like the coals, it met with difficulty in its progress. For some years Pall Mall was the only London street in which it was used.

"However, a good thing is sure to make its way at last. See how it is used now in all the squares, streets, alleys, and courts. There are more than twelve great gas companies in London. A new company, The Great Central Gas Consumers' Company, is supplying London with gas as cheaply as the Great Northern Coal Company is supplying the coals. There are

about 200,000 tons of coal used in a year for making gas. There are four or five hundred lamplighters, and the Londoners are an enlightened people.

"There! I hope, dear children, that you also are enlightened, for you have heard how the Londoners procure water, fire, and light. So say Thank you' to your industrious letter-writer,

"HENRY YOUNG."

ORTHOGRAPHY.

CHAPTER I

USE OF GRAMMAR, LETTERS, SYLLABLES, AND WORDS. There was a difference of opinion! but since you have learned grammar, you have both agreed to call it—

L. WE are waiting for our Grammar lesson, papa.

Ion. And we have been thinking-we are rather afraid that it will be uninteresting. Everybody says that grammar is dry. P. Well, we shall see. Do you remember when we began to talk of the animals?

Ion. "POCKET-HANDKER CHIEF." Then I suppose you call that grammar-learning to pronounce our words properly.

P. Yes, that is one part of
I need not tell you

W. Yes; you said that there are many thousands of ani- | grammar. mals. Since then we have how useful it is. If all fullarranged some of them into grown men were to speak as classes and orders-that was improperly as little children, very interesting work! there would be a "confusion of tongues" in every nation.

P. So also there are many thousands of words. There are nearly 60,000 in our language, and it will be quite as pleasant to arrange them as to arrange the animals in classes.

W. And I have learned something more since I was a baby; I have learned to use proper words. I used to say The Willie wants to go out for a walk," and "Willie is good;" but in time I learned to say "I want to go out." And something else:-I used to say "I is good," and "You is good," but now I know what words to use.

"parts," and "qualities," and "different sorts" of some, are as interesting as those of an animal. Grammar is as pleasant as Natural History.

Ion. I am glad to hear that, рара. That point is settled; grammar is interesting. Now will you show us why it is useful?

Ion. Yes. Papa corrected you and me too, or else mamma did, or else aunt, or the servants. P. Yes. You have been learn- So we have learned some graming grammar, Ion, ever since mar without any book. But I you were a baby. I remember know now what are the uses of that when you first had a grammar; it teaches us how to pocket-handkerchief pinned to pronounce our words, and what your side, you called it a "po-words to use. Or I can say it shankey." in a shorter way:-GRAMMAR W. That was not good gram- teaches us to speak correctly. P. It teaches you something P. No, decidedly not. And else. Here is part of a letter Lucy called her first pocket- which Miss Lucy wrote to me handkerchief a "pofferhefershet." | before she learned grammar:

mar.

« 上一页继续 »