290 History of the 



Forest was chosen to act the part of Queen for the day, attired in 

 her regal robes, with her train of attendants dressed in the most 

 grotesque habiliments, and these of every colour and shade. Those 

 were the merry days of the past which the Poets sometimes sing. 

 VVe have neither time nor relish for such displays now, having 

 grown too precise and matter-of-fact. The greed of gain is so ab- 

 sorbing as to prevent our paying attention to such old-world 

 manifestations of the poetry of every-day life. 



For the following approximated particulars of the woollen trade 

 of the district at the present time, I am indebted to the kindness 

 of a gentleman engaged in that business, and familiar with the 

 facts. The number of woollen manufacturers is six. These 

 employ 1,200 hands; there are 500 looms at work; the wages 

 paid weekly amount in the aggregate to ;^i,ooo, and the Capital 

 employed is about ;^3So,ooo. 



The sum of the capital may seem large to those not conversant 

 with the Woollen trade. Two of the most affluent firms in the 

 district, however, export the great bulk of their manufactured 

 goods, and together employ probably about two-thirds of the 

 amount. The staple goods produced are baizes, used as clothing 

 by the troops and natives of the Brazils, and the East and West 

 Coasts of South America, in which places are stationed representa- 

 tives of some of the Rossendale firms. 



Another branch of this important industry is the Felt and 

 Tapestry Carpet trade. In this there are four manufacturers 

 engaged, employing 400 hands, and paying in wages about ^^"400 

 per week. The production is 46,000 pieces, or nearly 3,700,000 

 yards of Carpet per annum, the Capital employed being about 

 _;^i6o,ooo. 



The Printing of these, and some few woven goods, forms an 

 important item in the industry of the district. Of works engaged 



to make one. Country women went about during the day in an idle merry 

 humour, making good cheer; and if they found a neighbour spinning, they 

 thought themselves justified in making a conflagration of the distaff." — 

 Chambers' s Book of Days, vol. i. p. 219. 



