The Decline of Ale. 139 
dom, and sometimes agents are present from America 
or the colonies. Much time is consumed in an exam- 
ination of the stock, and then the dinner begins—at 
least two hours later than was announced. But this 
little peculiarity is so well understood by all interested 
as to cause no inconvenience. : 
Scarcely any ale is to be seen ; it is there if asked 
for; but the great majority now drink sherry. The 
way in which this wine has supplanted the old- 
fashioned October ale is remarkable, and a noticeable 
sign of the times. At home the farmer may still 
have his foaming jug, but whenever farmers congre- 
gate together on occasions like this, sherry is. the 
favourite. When calling at the inns in the towns on 
market days— much business is transacted at the inns 
—spirits are usually taken, so that ale is no longer 
the characteristic country liquor. With the sherry 
cigars are handed round—another change. It is true 
the elderly men stick to their long clay pipes, and it 
is observable that some of the younger after a while 
go back to the yard of clay; but on the whole the 
cigar is now the proper thing. 
Then follow a couple of toasts, the stockowner’s 
and auctioneer’s—usually short—and an adjournment 
takes place—if it be stock, to the yards ; if corn, the 
cloth is cleared of all but the wine, and the sale pro- 
ceeds there and then. In either case the sherry and 
‘the cigars go round—persons being employed to 
press them freely upon all; and altogether a very 
