Decline of Cumberland Wrestling. 221 



name was soon known, and when, in the next 

 wrestling bout, he again threw his man, 

 applause rang round the ring, and "Weel 

 doon, George Moore ! " was echoed on all 

 sides. As the game proceeds, the difficulties 

 encountered by the victorious wrestlers be- 

 come greater and greater. All the weak and 

 inexpert men have been thrown and got rid 

 of, and when the strong have only the strong 

 to meet, the excitement becomes intensified 

 to a painful degree. On these thrilling occa- 

 sions the greatest vigilance is shown by the 

 champions as regards the way in which they 

 clutch or " tak' haud " of their antagonists. 

 Each strives to get some initial advantage, 

 and for some minutes they duck and dodge 

 round the ring, until a loud shout proclaims 

 that "They've haud! they've haud ! " The 

 men are locked as in a vice ; every muscle is 

 straining and quivering like a taut harp 

 string. Then all the subtlest and most 

 scientific tricks of an art which has been 

 practised among men ever since wrestling 

 formed one of the prizes of the Greek "pan- 

 cratium," are resorted to on both sides. 

 They are so neatly executed that the "chip" 



