Decline of Cumberland Wrestling. 229 



gayer and more frivolous than he, and he 

 never failed to tell me of my faults, He 

 was a strong, round-shouldered young fel- 

 low, very cheerful and willing. Among 

 our amusements we attended the wrestling 

 matches at St. John's Wood. The principal 

 match was always on Good Friday. One 

 day we went to the appointed tryst, and 

 George Moore entered his name as a 

 wrestler. The competitors drew lots, and 

 George's antagonist was a lifeguardsman 

 over six feet high. I think I see George 

 Moore smile now as he stood opposite to 

 the giant, who smiled also. Then thev went 

 at it in earnest, ' got haud,' and George was 

 gently laid upon his back. By this time he 

 was out of practice, and I do not think that 

 he ever wrestled again. Moreover, his work 

 soon became so hard that he had no time 

 for amusement." 



After eighteen months in their service, 

 Messrs. Fisher and Co. found George Moore 

 too o*ood for town travelling, and sent him 

 on the Liverpool and Manchester circuit. 

 He was then twenty-two, and in the northern 

 districts Messrs. Fisher's business had been 



