Q . The Country Gentle7naiis Magazine 



The majority of farmers, and (influenced by engage till the market-day, even with their 

 recent expectations of acquiring hoHdays old master, lest they should accept less than 

 otherwise) a large number of the employes might be got in the fair. The farmers who 

 desire the discontinuance of the periodical prefer a continuation of the hiring fair, appear 

 hiring fairs; but no inconsiderable, though to do so chiefly on the ground that they have 

 not very noisy minority, are not prepared to a greater field to select from than they would 

 sound the death-knell of the system. have in the registration office, and have an 

 Let us see what can be said for and opportunity of getting, verbally, a previous 

 against it. We shall proceed on the assump- master's opinion of a servant, which they ap- 

 tion that the servants will be unsuccessful in pear to value more than all the certificates a 

 the eff'orts lately begun by some of them for register ofiice could contain. 

 a holiday frequently, and periodical half-holi- The majority of those who disapprove of 

 days. The servants who advocate a con- the feeing-markets consist of employes and 

 tinuance of the feeing market seem to do so neutral parties. Some farmers complain of 

 mainly on the ground that it aff^ords them an the want of opportunity in the market of 

 ooportunity of meeting with old acquaintances inquiring into the character and qualifications 

 and friends, which they would not otherwise of the servants. They may be informed who 

 enjoy, and 'also that it enables them to dis- is a previous master, but if they leave the 

 pose of their services at the highest obtain- servant in search of the old employer, the 

 able rate. That there is some force in the chances are that some less scrupulous tenant 

 former argument anv one conversant with the engages the e7nploye before the more careful 

 disposition and habits of the farm-servants man returns. It is thus only in a very dull 

 will admit, but we are inclined to think the market that the verbal opinion of previous 

 latter less defencible. Many of the male ser- employers can be ascertained. By means of 

 vantsinthe north of Scotland are particu- registration ofiices and privatenegotiationsthe 

 larly prone to form lasting friendships among non-contents among the farmers believe they 

 their own sex, and sincere, though not could better suit themselves than in the hiring 

 always long attachments with the opposite market. Theservants whodesh-e a changein 

 gender. These endearments originate from the mode of engagement are chiefly the better 

 the parties being employed on the same or class of hands, who are grieved to see in- 

 adjoining farm, and at the expiry of the cur- ferior servants with, it may be, an equally 

 rent six months, the friends, and it may be good appearance, getting as high wages as 

 lovers, are separated by lo, 20, or even themselves from comparatively strange mas- 

 30 miles. During the first half-year of ters. Some of the servants also grudge the 

 separation warm friends of the same sex ex- expense of a feeing market, and to some of 

 change a few letters, expressing their longing them— not always, however, those who grudge 

 for a conference at the approaching feeing- it most— it is very costly. The proportion of 

 market. And if the worthy son of toil is male servants who spend only a shilling or 

 separated as above from his ladylove, they two in a market, is very small. A large 

 approach each other on paper much more number spend from 5s. to 12s. each, and not 

 frequently, and, it is almost needless to add, a few 20s. and upwards, almost all in drink 

 in very affectionate terms. In these epistles and sweetmeats or " sweeties"— the former 

 the feeing-market is pointed to as the first to their " chums " of the same sex, and the 

 probable'' place of rendezvous. These cir- latter to their female friends. The moralist 

 cumstances account, in a large measure, for has a word to say in this matter, and it is 

 the indisposition of a considerable portion of probably from this point of view that the case 

 the farm-servants to abolish the feeing-mar- against existing circumstances appears most 

 kets. It is seldom that more wages are ob- clamant. Judging from the scenes that occur 

 tainable in the market than good servants are towards the close of feeing markets, one 

 offered before, vet many servants will not might (and many do) conclude that the farm- 



