72 



that they were probably some of the last men to wear the costume 

 of a byegone age. 



The dress of the women was not less primitive than that of the 

 men. They wore homespun linsey-woolsey petticoats and long- 

 tailed bedgowns, a blue linen apron completing their attire. The 

 statesman's daughter who first communicated to her native dale a 

 knowledge of the glories of printed calico, in the shape of a smart 

 print dress, is said to have created a tremendous sensation, and 

 more than a nine days' wonder. 



The clogs worn by the women differed from those of the men 

 in being pointed at the toes, and having brass instead of iron 

 clasps. Their bonnets were made of pasteboard covered with black 

 silk, and in shape somewhat resembled a coal-scuttle : the front 

 projecting nearly a foot beyond the face of the wearer. Bonnets 

 were bonnets in those days, and served to protect the head and 

 face from sun or rain. 



In the eastern and northern parts of Cumberland, the peasantry 

 formerly lived in houses called "clay daubins," which were made 

 of clay and roofed with thatch. When a rustic couple were about 

 to go to housekeeping, affer it was decided they should start life in 

 a "clay daubin," a suitable site was first of all secured, and then a 

 day appointed on which their friends and neighbours met at the 

 place, each taking a spade and some provisions with him ; and by 

 their united efforts on such occasions, the walls of the humble 

 dwelling were generally finished before the day was over. A good 

 meal was in the meantime provided for the workers and other 

 invited guests who afterwards joined them, and the company 

 usually spent the night in what Anderson, the Cumberland bard, 

 terms "glorious fun and divarsion." By giving a quotation from 

 his song called "The Clay Daubin," we shall be able form some 

 idea of the manner in which these Cumbrians used to enjoy 

 themselves in the good old time : — 



We went owre to Deavie's clay daubin, 



An' faith a rare caper we had ; 

 Wi' eatin', an' drinkin', an' dancin', 



An' rwoarin' an' singin' like mad. 



