of the good,
The brave, the noble, that the past recalls."[77]

Many interesting tales respecting the manners and customs of the
eighteenth century are given by Steele and Addison in their well-known
series of papers entitled the _Spectator_. Charity and hospitality are
conspicuous traits of the typical country gentleman of the period, Sir
Roger de Coverley. "Sir Roger," says the _Spectator_, "after the
laudable custom of his ancestors, always keeps open house at
Christmas. I learned from him, that he had killed eight fat hogs for
this season; that he had dealt about his chines very liberally amongst
his neighbours; and that in particular he had sent a string of hog's
puddings with a pack of cards to every poor family in the parish. 'I
have often thought,' says Sir Roger, 'it happens well that Christmas
should fall out in the middle of winter. It is the most dead
uncomfortable time of the year, when the poor people would suffer very
much from their poverty and cold, if they had not good cheer, warm
fires, and Christmas gambols to support them. I love to rejoice their
poor hearts at this season, and to see the whole village merry in my
great hall. I allow a double quantity of malt to my small beer, and
set it running for twelve days to every one that calls for it. I have
always a piece of cold beef and a mince-pie upon the table, and am
wonderfully pleased to see my tenants pass away a whole evening in
playing their innocent tricks, and smutting one another. Our friend
Will Wimble is as merry as any of them, and shows a thousand roguish
tricks upon these occasions."

Puppet-shows and other scenic exhibitions with moving figures were
among the Christmas amusements in the reign of Queen Anne. Strutt
quotes a description of such an exhibition "by the manager of a show
exhibited at the great house in the Strand, over against the Globe
Tavern, near Hungerford Market; the best places at one shilling and
the others at sixpence each: 'To be seen, the greatest Piece of
Curiosity that ever arrived in England, being made by a famous
engineer from the camp before Lisle, who, with great labour and
industry, has collected into a moving picture the following figures:
first, it doth represent the confederate camp, and the army lying
intrenched before the town; secondly, the convoys and the mules with
Prince Eugene's baggage; thirdly, the English forces commanded by the
Duke of Marlborough; likewise, several vessels laden with pro