APPENDIX III. 373 



They are much better clothed now than formerly. 

 Corduroy trousers and slops are the usual style. 

 Smock-frocks are going out of use, except for milkers 

 and f aggers. Almost every labourer has his Sunday 

 suit, very often really good clothes, sometimes glossy 

 black, with the regulation " chimney-pot." His un- 

 fortunate walk betrays him, dress how he will. Since 

 labour has become so expensive it has become a com- 

 mon remark among the farmers that the labourer will 

 go to church in broadcloth and the masters in smock- 

 frocks. The labourer never wears gloves that has to 

 come with the march of the times ; but he is particu- 

 larly choice over his necktie. The women must dress 

 in the fashion. A very respectable draper in an agri- 

 cultural district was complaining to me the other day 

 that the poorest class of women would have everything 

 in the fashionable style, let it change as often as it 

 would. In former times, if he laid in a stock of goods 

 suited to tradesmen, and farmers' wives and daughters, 

 if the fashion changed, or they got out of date, he 

 could dispose of them easily to the servants. Now no 

 such thing. The quality did not matter so much, but 

 the style must be the style of the day no sale for 

 remnants. The poorest girl, who had not got two 

 yards of flannel on her back, must have the same style 

 of dress as the squire's daughter Dolly Vardens, 

 chignons, and parasols for ladies who can work all 

 day reaping in the broiling sun of August ! Gloves, 

 kid, for hands that milk the cows ! 



The cottages now are infinitely better than they 

 were. There is scarcely room for further improvement 

 in the cottages now erected upon estates. They have 

 three bedrooms, and every appliance and comfort com- 



