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following the habitual practice, took his part in the business of 
his own locality. The moral state even of the highest classes of 
society was not of a flattering character in the days of the Virgin 
Queen, while the great mass of the common people were rude, 
ignorant, and disorderly, and oftentimes scandalously immoral. 
But amid the social darkness there were many flashes of glorious 
heroism, and no lack of brave hearts and noble minds. But 
those times with all their shortcomings have passed away, the 
age of feudalism has gone by, and in the long centuries of change 
and progress that have intervened, time has mellowed and 
widened our social institutions, and raised the lower stratum of 
society to a nearer level with the higher. Yet while we boast 
ourselves of the present, let us not be unmindful of what we owe 
to the past, for those times were instinct with noble and true 
ideas, and with Carlyle we say that, ‘‘in prizing justly the indis- 
pensable blessings of the new, let us not be unjust to the old. 
The old was true if it no longeris.” And after all it is never a 
profitless retrospect this looking back into the past. In looking 
over the old landmarks we may learn something of our country’s 
history, and of those who played their parts in our ‘‘ rough island 
story.” Our thoughts and fancies will be stirred anew, and our 
sense of patriotism be nothing lessened by the contemplation of 
the memorials of that past on which our present is securely 
built. 
THE OLD HALLS ON THE WESTERN 
SLOPES OF PENDLE: 
THEIR HISTORY, ASSOCIATIONS AND PRESENT 
CONDITION. 
By ALFRED STRANGE. November 6th, 1888. 
The Ancient Halls nestling in the undulating combs on the 
western base of grim old Pendle,—present no very striking 
features so far as their architecture and present appearance are 
concerned. They are without exception all of the smaller type 
of domestic dwelling common to the 16th and 17th centuries, 
and exactly what might be expected to accommodate the lesser 
class of gentry. They all show decided indications of architectural 
relationship, being built of stone quarried in the neighbourhood, 
and possessing capabilities for endurance which modern houses 
do not possess. Notwithstanding these advantages, not one of 
the six halls I purpose referring to, remains intact at the present 
date, their adaptation to the purposes of the modern farm house 
having done much to rob them of their original character. Three 
