n 



In some instances they have been bought by the great manu- 

 facturers, who have thus absorbed, first the trade, and then the 

 lands, of the old "statesmen." 



The costume of the dalesmen is sometimes described as having 

 been picturesque. As before stated, the material of which it was 

 made was homespun, and frequently undyed, black and white fleeces 

 being mixed to save the expense of dying. It is curious to observe 

 that this homely material, which is still made in some parts of 

 Scotland and Ireland, has lately been pronounced by fashion to be 

 superior for country wear to the most finished products of the 

 steam loom ; so that now, the most elegant ladies do not disdain 

 to wear dresses of the selfsame homespun of which our ancestors 

 made their "kelt coats." These coats were ornamented with brass 

 buttons, as were the waistcoats, which were made open in front for 

 best, in order to show a frilled shirt breast. Knee breeches were 

 the fashion for centuries. They were buttoned tight round the 

 body above the haunches, so as to keep up without braces, which 

 are of modern invention. Those used for best had a knot of 

 ribbon and four or five bright buttons at the knee ; and those who 

 could afford it, had them made of buckskin. Their stockings, 

 which were a conspicuous part of the dress, were also made from 

 their own wool, their colour being generally blue or grey. On 

 their feet they wore clogs on ordinary occasions, but when dressed 

 in holiday costume, they had low shoes fastened with buckles, 

 which were sometimes of silver. At the present day this style of 

 dress is nearly obsolete in our vales : but some of the old dalesmen 

 still adhere to what was the fashion of their youth. Some four or 

 five years ago, four of the old "statesmen" of the district happened 

 to meet at Grasmere fair, and stood talking together for some time. 

 After a while one of them noticed that all four were dressed in 

 knee breeches, and thinking it a strange chance which had brought 

 together what, in these degenerate days, were probably about the 

 only four pairs of breeches left in the county, they agreed that it 

 formed a fitting occasion for a friendly glass and a good "crack" 

 about "auld lang syne." Of these men it may be said, that they 

 were a connecting link between^ the old times and the new, and 



