, 1873-09-28
ENGLISH MINERS.
a Minerss Eetc..UnticrEround People
under tho SkieH.


under tho Skte1.
A minors foto Is described as follows in tho
columns Of tho London Daily Telegraph: "rhree
years aince, hnpponng to be in tho neighbor-
hood Of Brieriy y-hill, btaffordshiro, about this
tseszon, was n invited Flest At ~ annual out
dignifed by the title Of fete. sblinks was tho
modest torn applied to tho entertainment, and
feel bound to say that 1t eomprehondod so many
QUO thinking that il this was the inevitable
delve for thor daily bread in the bowels
Of tho dark earth,, tho sooner wc return
ing, and warming our abode by means Of Sim
plo wood, tho better. Women as vol as lads
attended, and although on moderate estimate
ouch one Of them must havc consumed at least
value Of tho gowns TINT zach wore was not half
tho money. Among the hnauBements WAS dog
fight in distant corner OF tho field, whoro tho
women were hs FREQ as their husbands to back O
fayorite pup for shilling; a man fight; and u
or sinco-a woman fight; regular strip-to-thn-
waist, stand-np set-to, tho hackers on the ono
side being tho husband, and on the other sido
9 noble-mindoa sWain, the accepted auitor Of
womnn's antagonist. II I remember rightly,
at tho eleventh round tho maiden Amazon.
by shoulder-hit full ut tho others breast,
csuaea 6uch sudden and prolonged fninting-ht
that sho was unable to como up to tho scratch
when tho timo Was called, and, despite her hua-
bands strenuous ondeavors to bring to- the
vito Of his bosom by bonding Ler thumbs and
applying pinch Of strong snuff to her inani-
mato nostrilg. tho sponge was thrown up. To ho
it was some consolation to observe that a quarter
Of M hour aftorWard tho parties concerned wero
all partaking Of 1t as ameably as possible but 1t
vas an ugly sight, and ono to bo remembered.
the wall Of tho railway arch at Leamington, an-
nouncing IN bold type that next dny tho Anal
gamatod Society Of Miners Of the IfRton District
rould this year hold their annual foto at a we'll
known pleasure grounds within two ,ninutcs'
Talk Of tho most fashionable parade, it
aaBhed to my mind that tho miuora wore now a
reformed race. who wore reputed to have grown
as familiar with tho flavor Of champagne as they
previously wero with common fonrrenny ; md
tho rlacard ceased to be startling: Tho remain-
and Hplrits OF tho best quality and cigars Of tho
incHt brands,' would DO provided On tho spot by
acompetent and trustworthy judge ofsuch goods;
and. furthermore. that celebrated military
lection Of oporatc and dance muBio.' sNhynot?
why should not coal-minors drink champagne IL
they have q mind to p inquired tho gentleman
who was recently examined as . wit1.oss on tho
selves slightly dsordered after tue luxurious
libatlon, thoy have mind to try Loamineton
waters to Ret thom right, what, pray, ia to hin-
der thom7 Not tho present prico OF coal, cor
taiuly.
''Tno Driorly Dlinke, however, required so
freshly to my memory That feel hn inclination
to 60 and see how au amalgamAtod brotherhood
OF modcrn miners, accompanied by their wives
and sweethearts, lisported themselves. 1t ia
thirty miles from Bilston to Leamington, and q
They came with band, and thoy came with
banner; and II the Dilston fotes of ollwere any-
thing like that already alluded to, tho change,
was nothing short Of marvellous. To be s,Ee, OF
the hundreds who in dooorouH procession march-
od,headed by the band. there wore fow roughrit
lada but they eoryod to sot of tho responsibility
of the great majority. Diseredit Inns boon thrown,
and perhaps desezyedly, on the champagne
story, but thoro can be no mistake to tho conl-
minors improved worldly position. tits recorded
Of tho now miBerably hard-up spitalaoila
weaver, that thirty years ago, when Ills trado
WAS at the height Of prosperity, 1t was TINT
proud artisans ambition to wear ailver orown-
pieces instead OF bnttons on m bis coat. fush Of
sense to this extent at present, but 1t cannot be
denied that 1t has betrayed him into inconsieton-
cies. 1Io drcssos hia wife in expensive stutIs,
and not unfrcquontJ IN blue silka OF tho fashion,
wrists. The profits on our house coal, at Two
guineas ton, enable him to place in tho hands
OF his vito and daughters costly parasola, aud
to adorn their heada with hair, and bonneta 80
uuEoFA<SA Will sat!Aule 4lu4lb AlQ u0W0r6 tllAt
1t IS = wonder tho birds aud beos do not oseail
thom.. II they felt half ~ happy aa they
looked in tLelr Anory, one might 10
pltnlan, though he works only four
days q wook In place OF six. The improved nit
ynan has donnod q tall lat, weara collars, and
somehow lie contriyoB to torture ILLS honest,
coal-1nining hands into kid goyoH lIo iB ad-
cast asldo the neat and easy woodon.solo clogs
In favor OF fashionable boots, not unfreaueutly
Of patent leather; though. strangely enough, ii
Lis hurry to become genaoel-and al waa In more
tho green At Itea1niugtou-ho does not yot Thor
oughly comprehend that modern society cannot
dispense with aocks and stockings. It looka
odd to 200 an Inch Or 80 Of naked llnb bctwoen
when he is waltzlng, and. for TINT mattor, to
see hlm put two Of his bogloved tingors In hla