THE UPSTANDING CROP. 47 



THE FRANCHISE FOR AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS. 

 153. a week all the year round and no surrender. 

 Bands were playing, flags were flying, and arches of ever- 

 greens and flowers were erected. There were gingerbread 

 stalls and tents where refreshments were served. Aunt 

 Sally and other games were provided, whilst dancing and 

 kiss-in-the-ring were thoroughly enjoyed. 1 



The Union had a splendid asset in the Labourers' Union 

 Chtonicle, which, though not officially the property of the 

 Union, being owned by Mr. Vincent, championed the labour- 

 ers' cause without reservation. But for its existence few 

 of the cases of tyranny would ever have been recorded in 

 print. It is astonishing that it should have had a circula- 

 tion of 50,000 weekly at a time when it was estimated that 

 at least 80 per cent, of the labourers could neither read nor 

 write. The listeners to its message, for the paper was read 

 aloud by those who could read, in chapel, cottage, and pub- 

 lic house, must have exceeded this number many times. 



It should not be imagined, however, that the whole of 

 rural England in 1872 was given over to " agitation." The 

 pastoral calm of Wales, and of the extreme northern coun- 

 ties of England were little disturbed by Arch's movement. 



These were the days of opulent farming, when fanners 

 lived by farming pure and simple, and did not have re- 

 course to pupils or boarders for the summer, or to letting 

 their fields abutting on to the railway line as advertising 

 sites for Somebody's Pills or Baked Beans. Harvest Homes 

 were still the order of the day, at which were sung, 

 " The Vly among the Turmuts," " God bless the Puir 

 Sheep," " A Gossipin' Wife goes Gaddin' About." 



In Oxfordshire it was still possible to see the Morris Dancers 

 at Whitsuntide going the round of the villages. These were 

 usually eight in number, attired in white shirt and white 

 trousers with tall black hats with plenty of gay ribbons at 

 all points and many little bells which jangled with the 

 movements of the dance. These dancers were generally 

 accompanied by a fiddler and by a " Squire," or " Fool," 

 who was the jester. 



1 The Labourers' Union Chronicle, June 28, 1873. 



