57 



won by John Boustead of Beckbank, brother to the famous Bishop 

 of Lichfield. Unhke Melmerby Round, that at Langwathby was 

 held in mid-winter, on New Year's Day and the day following, 

 and amongst the other attractions of wrestling, racing, dog-trails, 

 etc., there was a dance on the green for maidens, sometimes in the 

 snow. At the conclusion each maiden was presented with a bright 

 ribbon, called a Fancy. 



"Barring out" is an old custom which has gone, I am afraid, 

 never to return. I have a clear recollection of the merriment of 

 a barring out. About Christmas time, in most Cumberland villages, 

 the scholars got inside the school early in the morning, and barred 

 the master out until he had made arrangements as to length of 

 holidays, etc. The master, who always expected the barring out 

 at the proper time, used to adjourn to the village ale-house and 

 treat the biggest boys to mulled ale — for in the winter season 

 plenty of big fellows eighteen and twenty years of age attended 

 the schools. The School Board system and the recent Education 

 Acts gave, however, the death-blow to this time-honoured custom. 



The customs of this county regarding Christmas Hospitality 

 cannot be excelled anywhere. At Edenhall, under its late respected 

 owner and his father, the grand old customs of the olden times 

 have been continued. The same may be said of Mun caster Castle, 

 and many more of our county houses, showing us that the men of 

 Cumberland have warm hearts, and dispense to their less fortunate 

 brethren with no niggardly hand the "roast beef of Old England." 

 We see as each year rolls by and brings back the Christmas season, 

 the grandest of all old Cumberland customs, namely, a large- 

 hearted, generous hospitality. 



