Decline of Cumberland Wrestling. 2 1 9 



looking, with a broad chest and clearly de- 

 fined muscles. His hair was dark and curly, 

 his eyes brown and glowing with excitement. 

 His face beamed with good humour and 

 health, and his bearing was free and inde- 

 pendent to the verge of abruptness. 



" To those who do not know the rules of 

 Cumberland wrestling," writes Dr. Smiles, 

 "it may be mentioned that, although an 

 athletic sport, it is always conducted with 

 perfectly good temper, the loser invariably 

 taking his fall as a joke. It is practised 

 by boys and men on the village greens, 

 and in the north is never mixed up with 

 betting or drinking, although it must be 

 confessed that in London it is not always 

 free from these objectionable elements. 

 The wrestlers stand up chest to chest, 

 each placing his chin on the other's right 

 shoulder, and his left arm above the right 

 arm of his opponent. Then they grasp 

 each other round the body. There is often 

 a delay and difficulty in ' takin' haud.' Each 

 tries to get an advantage in seizing the under 

 grip. When both have got firm hold, the 

 sport begins in earnest, and each endeavours 



