Chap. 1] GENERAL HISTORY. 47 



of the Historian of the future. How much better, one is tempted to 

 say, would it have been to have founded a free library, or to have es- 

 tablished a public play ground ? The prettiest sight, and one which 

 stirred the hearts of those who saw it, was the sight of the beacon 

 fires, which fi-om almost every hill lop ia the kingdom lit up the 

 heavens. On Parlick Pike, on Beacon Fell, on the heights of Hoghton, 

 and on Old Pendle, and on many a lesser eminence, the fires blazed all 

 night through, reminding one of the days of "The Spanish Fright," 

 or " The Pilgrimage of Grace," when they were of the utmost service 

 to those who knew only too well what they meant. 



One memorial of the Jubilee which will, needless to say, outlast the 

 ones I have mentioned, was erected by a well-known resident of 

 Longridge, whose identity, as " the Owner of Well brow," wiU be 

 easily recognised. The memorial took the shape of two huge stones, 

 which serve as seats for the tired pedestrian, with the legend " 1887" 

 cut on the face of each. 



The roasting of a whole ox is such an uncommon event now-a-days 

 that the fact of one being roasted at Longridge during the Jubilee 

 year deserves to be placed on record. Much excitement was created 

 by the event, and an enormous crowd gathered to watch the cutting- 

 up, as well as to taste the meat. The head of the ox, a fine black 

 Galloway, bred at Well Brow farm, was mounted, as were also the 

 hoofs. 



