This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XX. More about dancing.--A harling-match for a wife.--Mr. Head's improvements.--Cullen.--The Rev. Mr. Lloyd at Castle Lloyd.--The Galty mountains.--Mitchelstown.--Pigs and children.--Lord Kingsborough and the middlemen.--The author becomes his land-steward.--How building promotes civilization. ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XX. More about dancing.--A harling-match for a wife.--Mr. Head's improvements.--Cullen.--The Rev. Mr. Lloyd at Castle Lloyd.--The Galty mountains.--Mitchelstown.--Pigs and children.--Lord Kingsborough and the middlemen.--The author becomes his land-steward.--How building promotes civilization.--Stalactite cave at Skehcenrinky.--Beauty of the scenery of the Galty mountains.--Another route from Mitchelstown to Dublin. DANCING is very general among the poor people, almost universal in every cabbin. Dancing-masters of their own rank travel through the country from cabbin to cabbin, with a piper or blind fiddler; and the pay is six pence a quarter. It is an absolute system of education. Weddings are always celebrated with much dancing; and a Sunday rarely passes without a dance; there are very few among them who will not, after a hard day's work, gladly walk seven miles to have a dance. John is not so lively; but then a hard day's work with him is certainly a different affair from what it is with Paddy. Other branches of education are likewise much attended to, every child of the poorest family learning to read, write, and cast accounts. There is a very ancient custom here, for a number of country neighbours among the poor people, to fix upon some young woman that ought, as they think, to be married; they also agree upon a young fellow as a proper husband for her; this determined, they send to the fair one's cabbin to inform her, that on the Sunday following she is to be horsed, that is, carried on men's backs. She must then provide whisky and cyder for a treat, as all will pay her a visit after mass for a hurling match. As soon as she is horsed, the hurling begins, in which the young fellow appointed for her husband has the eyes of...
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