i08 HISTORY OF 



Among the customs ol tlie town I may notice 

 one, which is at present kept up here only ; and 

 under the name of slocsio, it has been observed 

 from time immemorial. On Easter Sunday, 

 crowds of boys and men proceed with wands of 

 gorse to proclaim on Pen twthil the laws and re- 

 gulations, which are to be observed on the follow- 

 ing morning. The bride-groom who has been 

 last married is always sought for to perform the 

 office of crier; mounted on a heap of stones, he 

 calls the attention of his audience, who listen res- 

 pectfully with their hats off, and he proclaims 

 notices to the following import : that all men 

 under sixty years of age are to appear in the street 

 before six o'clock on the following morning, and 

 all under forty before four, and all under twenty 

 not to go to bed at all under penalty of being put 

 in the stocks. After proclaiming these and similar 

 notices, loud cheers are given, and the audience 

 separate, the younger part to form plans for their 

 amusement during the night, and those, who own 

 any carts or other vehicles, to secure them with 

 chains and locks, as they well know that they will 

 be in requisition on the following day. At an 

 early hour on the morrow, the stocks are placed at 

 the bottom of the street, and a party headed by a 



