ng," also an exploded custom,
whatever its meaning was. In what novel now-a-days would there be an
allusion to "Warren's blacking," or to "Rowland's oil," which was, of
course, their famous "Macassar." These articles, however, may still be
procured, and to that oil we owe the familiar interposing towel or piece
of embroidery the "antimacassar," devised to protect the sofa or easy
chair from the unguent of the hair. "Moral pocket handkerchiefs," for
teaching religion to natives of the West Indies, combining amusement with
instruction, "blending select tales with woodcuts," are no longer used.

Old Temple Bar has long since disappeared, so has the Holborn Valley. The
Fleet was pulled down about ten years after Pickwick, but imprisonment
for debt continued until 1860 or so. Indeed Mr. Lang seems to think it
still goes on, for he says it is now "disguised as imprisonment for
contempt of Court." This is a mistake. In the County Courts when small
debts under 3 pounds 10s. are sued for, the judge will order a small
weekly sum to be paid in discharge; in case of failure to pay, he will
punish the disobedience by duress not exceeding fifteen days--a wholly
different thing from imprisonment for debt.

Where now are the _Pewter Pots_, and the pot boy with his strap of
"pewters?"--we would have to search for them now. Long cut glasses have
taken their place. Where, too, is the invariable Porter, drunk almost
exclusively in Pickwick? Bass had not then made its great name. There
is no mention of Billiard tables, but much about Skittles and Bagatelle,
which were the pastimes at Taverns.

Then the Warming Pan! Who now "does trouble himself about the Warming
Pan?"--which is yet "a harmless necessary and I will add a comforting
article of domestic furniture." Observe _necessary_, as though every
family had it as an article of their "domestic furniture." It is odd to
think of Mary going round all the beds in the house, and deftly
introducing this "article" between the sheets. Or was it only for the
old people: or in chilly weather merely? On these points we must be
unsatisfied. The practice, however, points to a certain effeminacy--the
average person of our day would not care to have his bed so treated--with
invalids the "Hot Water Bottle" has "usurped its place." We find this
superannuated instrument in the "antique" dealers' shops, at a good
figure--a quaint old world thing, of a sort of old-fashioned cut and
pattern