The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-09-24
RURAL LIFE IN ENGLAND.
ADJUSTMENTS OF LADS AND LAssEs
AT A COUNTRY FAIR.
Scenes that are Disappearing Before
Dude Influence-A Common
Picture Twenty Years Ago.


There is no place like a country fair
for getting a true insight into the char
acters of the English peasantry, says a
writer in the San Francisco CALI There
all reserve is laid aside, and Johnny and
Molly do really enjoy themselves. A
stranger might walk a hundred miles
through the country and never meet
with tithe of the character he will here
pick up. Johnny invariably carries
stick in his hand and, unless when talk
ing, eating or drinking, you find the
knot thrust into his mouth. He wears
high ankle boots, laced very tight, and
twines the lace three or four times around
the ankle before he fastens it. He has
on worsted hose, either blue or gray, and
prefers having them ribbed. His breeches
are either velveteen, corduroy, or velvet
with pearl buttons on the knees, and
large bunch of drab ribbon, the ends of
which he likes to see hang a good way
down. If these are new, he generally
tucks up his smock -frock to show them.
His waistcoat is either plush or light
kind of fustian, stamped all over with
spots, rings, squares or diamonds. If he
can get pattern with half a dozen colors
in it he likes it all the better, for if it is
large and staring he knows Betty will
consider it very neat. His neckerchief
is generally either red or yellow; he likes
the ends to hang out good way, and to
feel the real India blowing about the face.
He rubs up the down on his hat the
wrong way TO show how thick it is of
"beaver, for he loves to see everything
he wears stick out and be conspicuous.
Molly has generally pair Of pattens
in one hand and a cotton umbrella in
the other, it matters not how fair or
how fine it may be. She bought them
May-day or two before, and she argues
that it's no use having such things un-
less she brings them out. If she has a
sweetheart he generally carries the pat
tens, and they are the cause of little at
tention on both sides, for she says:
''I.et me carrien 'em a bit, John, to
wresten thy fstas."
He answers, ''Noah, Molly, thankeen
thee; 1 wool how'd 'em mesen."
Her gown is the grandest she can pur-
chase. The pattern is either a great un-
natural flower, or a trailing seaweed
bordered with shells. She likes a red
shawl because it can be seen long way
off. AS soon as they get into the fair,
John either buys pound of ginger
bread, or OF nuts, which he ties up in
his handkerchief, leaving, however, one
corner open into which they can insert
their hands. They crack and MUNICH
away while there is one left. Some
times she says they are "mixed, " and he
says "Hey2" They then saunter around
and have a look at the shows and
! booths. He buys a knife with three or
four blades which is only fit to cut
butter. Molly purchases few yards of
red or blue ribbon. They then pay a
penny each. and have look into a peep
show; when it is over Johnny wonders
however they can get such long streets
and big houses into such a small place,
and Molly answers that ''it's all magic. ~
They next try their fortune in a penny
lucky bag, which they are assured con-
tains "all prizes and no blanks, Johnny
gets cotton stay lace and Molly a row
of pins. They purchase a song of bal
lad singer, which is ''all about love and
such like" They then get into swing
boat, and are tossed up and down until
they begin TO feel very queer indeed,
for they have eaten all the pastry they
could fancy, to say nothing of apples,
nuts, oranges, pears, plums, and ginger
bread.
So they adjourn to the public house
"to rest and settle down bit" John
meets few acquaintance and tries to
smoke pipe; this with few glasses of
ale sets his tongue a-going. There is
generally recruiting party in the room,
and as the ale gets into his noddle he
talks about listing, at which Molly pulls
his sleeve and says: "Dunna be fool,
Johnny" He then tries a song, and to
make the tune and metre harmonic lays
his accent in very peculiar places.
He offers to thrash, plow, reap, or NOV
with "any man i the room for a gowden
guinea, and to put the money down. y
He gets his comrade, who is drinking
with him, to feel his arm, and sometimes
bares it to show the strength of his mus
cles. He tells how he once lifted sack
Of corn into the wagon without ever let
ting it rest upon him, only touching il
with his hands. He would quarrel were
it not for Molly getting up and popping
her pattens between her lover and his
opponent. Johnny gets mellow, is ready
for anything, and will go out. Mollie
has picked up female companion whose
sweetheart is as far gone as her own, and
they follow arm-in-arm to see that moth,
ing happens to their lovers.
Now John is either ready to climb the
creased pole for a new hat, ride donkey
race, wheel a barrow bindfolded. jumI
in a sack, or, as he says, "Any manner OF
thing" There is soon seen a lot of sacks
full of men, with only a head peepina
out, and Johnny's about the most stupid
of the whole lot, for he makes up the one
of half dozen who begin with jumping
in sacks. He gets in with great Difficult
ty, has his arm thrust down, is tied up
about the shoulders, and when the word
"OfT is given, he is about the first that
falls. Molly can hardly unloose him fol
laughing "Better luck next time, says
Johnny, and he enters the chase for the
pig with its soaped tail, rubbing his hand