CHAP. XIII.

ON FESTIVALS FOR THE WORKING CLASSES.

AMID the heads of expence of a resident in the country, the cost of the table and servants' hall is very considerable. There is, however, another species of hospitality too little practised at prèsent, though fraught with many advantages: viz. hospitality towards the peasantry. The rich cannot more beneficially expend a small portion of their superfluous income, than in entertaining once or twice a-year the cottagers on their

estates.

If they look to popularity, if they rejoice in communicating happiness, if they would uphold morality, and strengthen those bonds which unite different ranks of mankind together, I know no method (as far as an individual is concerned) more effectual.

The landlord should request a holiday for them, and at an early hour on the day he fixes,

which should be when the weather is warm, and not during harvest, a moderate and fitting entertainment should be given them. They may, at that season, dine out of doors, or under an awning; or, if the festival be at Christmas, accommodation may be easily provided for willing guests.

Some necessary regulations will easily suggest themselves on these occasions, especially a fixed allowance of malt liquor to each person.

It seems probable, that the tendency to intoxication so prevalent among the poorer classes, arises, in some measure, from their having no place of exercise or amusement on their holiday; for at cricket matches this is seldom the case.

In Tuscany I have seen above five hundred of the middle and poorer ranks assembled at a great rural festival, where the revels were kept up to a late hour; yet, of all these, only one, a boy, appeared the least intoxicated. The same observation must have occurred to every traveller, with respect to the meetings of the southern French peasantry.

At our rural festival no one should be admitted who was not neatly clothed, or who

received parochial relief; no one who had misconducted themselves since the former meeting.

There seems no reason why the farming servants residing on the proprietor's estate should be excluded, on producing a ticket of their conduct signed by their master or mistress.

Music should be provided to enliven the scene, and some kind of rural sport should be introduced. Dancing, prison bars*, foot-ball †, quoits, cricket, &c. and a prize be given to the winning party.

Stalls and booths may be erected for the display and sale of different articles; or respectable dealers be admitted to vend whatever was suited to the situation of their humble customers. The meeting should break up at an early hour, that all may return home whilst it is light.

* Vide Strutt's account of Prisoner's Base, "for which (he says) the men of Cheshire and the adjacent counties used to be famous."

† An old author describes Christmas in doggrel verse, and says,

"Now in the winter when men kill the fat swine,
They get the bladder and blow it great and thin,
With many beans and peasen put within;
Each one contendeth, and hath a great delight,
With foote and with hande the bladder to smite."

By making a few trifling presents, by a very little attention bestowed, by some kind words or enquiries, great pleasure may be diffused, and great benefit conferred. With this intention in view, no man will object to the fatigue of such an exertion for a few hours, once or twice a-year. The proud know not the pleasure of condescending benevolence; they cannot calculate what happiness they lose, in not endeavouring to make others happy. From those of comparatively high station, each word, and nod, and look is of value; they have at their command an easy and cheap distribution of favour!

The benefits arising from the upper classes occasionally mingling in the amusements of their poorer neighbours, is strongly exemplified in Kent, Sussex, and some of the other southern counties, where the excellent old English game of cricket is still kept up.

There matches are often made in the summer time between adjacent parishes, hamlets, or districts; and the eleven best players at each place, headed, perhaps, by some country gentleman or rich yeoman, and consisting of tradesmen, farmers, and labourers, meet among their friends

and neighbours to contest for the rustic honours

of victory.

For the sake of mixing with their superiors on these occasions, the people redouble their industry. And throughout the summer, on every village green, the young men and lads are seen amusing themselves with this athletic exercise to prepare against the match, which is talked of as a great event.

It is not the good meal or festive scene only which will be prized by these humble guests, but they will feel that an honour is done them. Their feeling of self-respect will be increased, and they will endeavour, by a decent deportment and industrious habits, to deserve the notice taken of them. The women will take care that their children are well clothed to appear at the annual meeting, and the men will work hard for a coat to wear at their landlord's feast.

By these means, that respect towards superiors which the manufacturing system and other causes have so much diminished, would be preserved, and education and rank would have their due weight.