The Lancashire farmer says that, "_A daisy year is a lazy year_,"
because when daisies are plentiful in the fields the crop of gra.s.s is usually light.
Other proverbs tell us that "_An honest mon an" a west wind alus go to bed at neet_," and "_Fleet at meyt fleet at wark_." "_The first c.o.c.k of hay drives the cuckoo away._"
Attempting to cross a busy thoroughfare in front of a moving omnibus with an impetuous friend, the cautious Lancashire man will say: "Nay, howd on! _There"s as mitch room behint as before._" And in response to one who is exaggerating in his language:--"Come! tha"s said enough, thou"rt over doing it, owd lad; _there"s a difference between scrattin" yor head and pullin th" hair off_!"
When disputation waxes high and hot, the same humorist will say: "Come, come lads! no wranglin", let"s go in for a bit o" peace and quietness, as Billy b.u.t.terworth said when he put his mother-in-law behint th" fire."
Of any one whose nasal organ is unusually prominent, in other words, when it is large enough to afford a handle for ridicule, it is said that "he was n"t behint th" door when noses were gan out!"
The etiquette of mourning for lost relations has its ludicrous side.
Many of the working-cla.s.ses in Lancashire, especially in out-of-the-way villages, take pride in the style of their funerals. On such occasions it is usual to have a "spread" in the shape of a "thick tay" on returning to the house after the "burying," when the relations and friends a.s.semble and talk over the virtues of the dear departed.
To omit such a provision is looked upon as a neglect of duty not to be pa.s.sed over without comment. A ham, boiled whole, and served cold along with the tea, is the favourite "thickening" on those occasions.
One matron was much scandalized that her next door neighbour had made no further provision for the funeral guests than a "sawp o" lemonade"
and a few sweet cakes.
"Aw "ve laid mi husband an" three childer i" th" churchyard," remarked this censor of her neighbour"s conduct, "an", thank the Lord, aw buried "em o" wi" "am!"
My next story must not be taken as fairly exemplifying the Lancashire female character, which, indeed is usually of a very different complexion. It is, however, related as a fact that a poor old fellow as he lay dying, and who, in an interval of reviving consciousness, detected the smell of certain savoury viands that were being prepared, managed in his weakness to say to his better-half who was busy near the fireplace:
"Aw think aw could like a taste o" that yo"ve gettin i" th" pot, Betty."
"Eh! give o"er talkin" that way, Jone," was the response, "thae cannot ha" noan o" this; it"s th" _"am_, mon, as aw"m gettin ready for th"
buryin!"
There is sarcastic humour in the remark made by one to his friend who had just buried his uncle, the latter when alive having been something of a rip:
"I"ve known worse men, John, than your uncle."
"Oh, I"m glad to hear you speak so well of my uncle," was the response of the other, with just a touch of surprise in his look.
"Ay," continued the first speaker, "I"ve known worse men than your uncle, John, but not so d----d many!"
The Lancashire artizan, like others in higher station who should, but do not always, set him a better example, is p.r.o.ne to the occasional use of an oath, generally a petty oath, to emphasize his speech. It is an objectionable habit, doubtless, even when no irreverence is intended. Curiously enough, instead of being employed to express aversion to the object to which it is applied, the expletive is often used as a term of endearment. For example, we sometimes hear the expression: "He"s a clever little devil!" applied by a father in admiration of the budding intelligence of his own little boy. An anecdote will best exhibit this peculiar turn of speech.
Some time ago, I had occasion to stay at Stalybridge over night, and after dinner I left my hotel and took a turn along one of the streets leading towards the outskirts of the town. It was a fine evening and the lamps were lighted. At a short distance before me I observed three working men, as I judged by their speech and gait, dressed in their best black toggery, and with each a tall silk hat on his head.
Evidently they were returning from a funeral. They were stepping leisurely along, and, as I neared them from behind, I overheard part of their conversation. One of them, as he approached a lamp post, took his hat off, and began expatiating to the others on its quality.
"Ay," he said, holding the hat at arm"s length that it might catch the rays from the gas lamp overhead, "Ay, aw guv ten bob for this when it wur new!" (looking at his two friends to note if they expressed surprise and admiration), "that"s mooar than ten years sin". Ay"
(stroking it with his arm and again admiringly holding it out till it twinkled in the lamp rays), "Ay, an" th" devul shines like a raven yet!"
Another incident in ill.u.s.tration of the same peculiarity is said to have occurred in the experience of a well-known actor, who, with his company, while starring it in the provinces, was playing for a few nights at Wigan. During the daytime Mr ---- took a turn into the country, and, feeling tired with his walk, called to rest and refresh at a way-side "Public." As he entered the hostelry he observed in the sanded drinking room to the left of the pa.s.sage, two colliers sitting each with a pot of ale before him on the table. So, instead of taking the room to the right, which was the more luxurious parlour fitted for guests of his quality, he turned into that where the colliers sat conversing, hoping, as he was a student of human nature, to add something to his store of observation in that respect. He was not disappointed.
One of the men was evidently overcome with grief at some mischance that had befallen him. It turned out that he had just lost by death a favourite son of tender years to whom he had been fondly attached. The sorrowing parent leaned with his elbows on the table; and occasionally stroking his forehead with his hands, or resting his chin upon them, he would look vacantly into s.p.a.ce and sigh deeply. His friend was endeavouring to comfort him.
"It"s hard to bear, aw know, Jack; but cheer up, mon, an" ma" th" best ov a bad job."
"Ah! he wur a fine little lad wur our Jamie! It breaks mi heart to part wi" him."
"That"s true enough, Jack," responded his companion. "But, what mon!
he"s goown and tha connot mend it! Cheer up and do th" best tha con."
"Ay, ay, aw connot mend it. That"s th" misfortun on"t. But he wur a rare bit of a lad wur our Jim!"
"Well, come, bear"t as weel as tha con," patting his friend on the shoulder. "We"s o" ha" to dee some time, keep thi heart up an" ma" th"
best on"t. Tha knows tha connot bring "im back."
The other buried his face in his hands and remained silent for a time.
Then, suddenly stretching himself up, he struck his hard fist on the table as he exclaimed:
"Aw tell thi what, Sam. If it wurn"t for th" law, aw"d ha" th" little devul stuffed!"
The Rifle Volunteer movement, with its excellent motto, "Defence, not Defiance," has stood the test of time, having proved itself to be not only an ornamental but a useful and even necessary arm of defence, where, in this free country, a levy by conscription would not be tolerated. In its earlier stages, however, it encountered much opposition from many persons, who treated it with ridicule, and took every opportunity of speaking contemptuously of the "Sat.u.r.day afternoon soldiers." This is well ill.u.s.trated in a good story told by the late Mr John Bright. Speaking to an old fellow-townsman in Rochdale about the movement at the time of its inception, when corps were being formed throughout the country and enrolment was proceeding briskly:
"Yea," said the old Lancashire man to Mr Bright, "I always knew there wur a lot o" foo"s i" this world, but I never knew how to pyke "em out before!"
Mr Bright himself had a fund of Lancashire humour which came out at times in his speeches. He was also quick at repartee, not always without a touch of acrimony. On one occasion when he was dining with a well-known Manchester citizen the conversation turned on the subject of the growth and development of the United States.
"I should like," said his host, who is an enthusiastic admirer of the great Republic, "I should like to come back fifty years after my death to see what a fine country America has become.""
"I believe you will be glad of any excuse to come back," was Mr Bright"s wicked remark.
One of Disraeli"s admirers, in speaking of him to Mr Bright, said:
"You ought to give him credit for what he has accomplished, as he is a self-made man."
"I know he is," retorted Mr Bright, "and he adores his maker."
In a recent number of the _Spectator_, a writer remarks that "after reading the drawn-out plat.i.tudes of some politicians, how refreshing it is to find that "a voice" in the gallery so often puts the whole case in a nutsh.e.l.l, and performs for the audience and the country what the orator was unable to do."[7] The remark is much to the point.
Political meetings are often the occasion of a good deal of spontaneous wit or humour on the part of the audience. A Lancashire audience excels in repartee at such gatherings, and when the speaker of the moment is himself good at the game, the encounter is provocative of mirth.
[7] "The Use and Abuse of Epigram," _Spectator_, Nov. 4th, 1899.
Sir William Bailey gives what he a.s.serts is an unfailing recipe for silencing a hesitating and tiresome speaker. This is for a person in the audience to shout at the moment of one of the orator"s pauses: "Thou"rt short o" bobbins!" The roar of laughter which follows this sally effectually covers the orator with ridicule, and any attempt on his part to take up the thread of his discourse is useless. The reference to "bobbins" is well understood by a Lancashire audience.
The spinning frames in the cotton factories are fed from bobbins filled with roved cotton, and when these fail from any cause the machinery has to stand.
On the other hand, the worthy knight himself silenced a noisy and persistent meeting-disturber in a very effective way. Sir William, in the course of delivering a political speech was greatly annoyed by a person in front of the platform uttering noisy e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns with the object of interrupting the argument. As it happened, the fellow had an enormous mouth, as well as an unruly tongue and great strength of lungs. Sir William, suddenly stopping and pointing with his finger at the disturber, exclaimed: "If that man with the big mouth doesn"t keep it shut, I"ll jump down his throat--aw con do!" at the same time setting himself as if to take a spring. This had the desired effect and he continued his speech without further interruption. The real fun was in the final three words: "Aw con do!" The threat of jumping down the fellow"s throat was not a mere idle threat; his mouth was big enough to allow of the threat being carried out.