107 



OLD CUSTOMS AND USAGES OF THE LAKE DISTRICT. 



By John Richardson (Keswick). 



(Read at Cockermot<tk and Keswick.) 



In this age of cheap newspapers, when every occurrence of the least 

 consequence is chronicled, and almost every one reads the newspapers, 

 it is to be presumed that most persons aje perfectly well acquainted with 

 the customs and usages of the present time, and therefore, the purpose 

 of this essay is more particularly to notice some of the old customs of 

 the district, which have either altogether passed, or are fast passing 

 away. 



In a progressive country like our o^vn, manners and customs are 

 constantly changing. Old things are passing away, and new ones taking 

 their places ; these, in a generation or two, to be again superseded by 

 others, more in harmony with the ever improving and advancing state of 

 society. 



The customs and usages of a country, or district, therefore, are 

 always a true indication of the degree of civilization, or culture, to which 

 the people of such country or district, have attained; and are usually 

 those best suited to the condition, or circumstances, under which they 

 exist. To this it may perhaps be objected, that customs when once 

 firmly rooted among a people, continue to be observed long after the 

 state of things under which they were estabHshed has passed away, and 

 when they have become altogether unsuited to the altered state of society. 

 But, if we look more closely into the matter, we will invariably find tha*. 

 in those remote districts, where old customs and superstitions linger 

 longest, there also civilization and improvement are lagging behind, that 



