CHAMBERS' EDINBURGH JOURNAL
CONTENTS
THE DINNER-BELL.
TWO KINDS OF HONESTY.
DECIMAL SYSTEM OF COINAGE.
WHY THE SCOTCH DO NOT SHUT THE DOOR.
EDFOU AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD.
AN ENGLISH WORKMAN'S ACCOUNT OF A 'STRIKE' IN NEW YORK.
THE DOCTOR VERSUS THE MEDICINE.
APPLICATION OF THE SIRENE TO COUNT THE RATE AT WHICH THE WINGS OF INSECTS MOVE.
A WELCOME SACRIFICE.
'MY TRAVELLING COMPANION.'
CONDUCTED BY WILLIAM AND ROBERT CHAMBERS, EDITORS OF 'CHAMBERS'SINFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE,' 'CHAMBERS'S EDUCATIONAL COURSE,' &c.
| No. 428. New Series. | SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1852. | Price 1½d. |
THE DINNER-BELL.
In one of Webster's magnificent speeches, he remarks that so vast arethe possessions of England, that her morning drum-beat, following thesun and keeping company with the hours, circles the earth daily with onecontinuous and unbroken strain of its martial airs. There is anothermusical sound, within the British islands themselves, which does not asyet quite traverse the whole horary circle, but bids fair to do so inthe course of time, and to this we would direct the attention of theAmerican secretary, as a fitting subject for a new peroration. We alludeto the Dinner-bell. At noon, in the rural districts of England, thischarming sound is heard tinkling melodiously from farm or villagefactory; at one, in the more crowded haunts of industry, the strain istaken up ere it dies; and by the time it reaches Scotland, a full hungrypeal swells forth at two. At three till past four there is a continuousring from house to house of the small country gentry; and at five thisbecomes more distinct and sonorous in the towns, increasing inimportance till six. From that time till seven and half-past, it waxesmore and more fashionable in the tone, till at eight it stops abruptly:not like an air brought to a conclusion, but like one broken offaccidentally, to be by and by resumed.
The dinner hours of the labouring-class are no doubt regulated accordingto business, and perhaps receive some modification from nationalcharacter. An Englishman, for instance, is said to work best after hismeal, and accordingly his dinner makes its appearance sometimes as earlyas noon, but never later than one; while a S