Lincoln, Rutland & Stamford Mercury (1859)
Source:
[Anon.] (Auth.)
*(Stamford)
*Lincoln, Rutland & Stamford Mercury,
14th Jan.1859, pp.4b
"The rustic fooleries usually tolerated on Plough Monday brought
to Stamford on the 11th inst. a large number of agricultural labourers,
who with painted faces and tawdry disguises importuned the inhabitants
for contributions. One stalwart fellow tried to do "the state some
service" by bringing into ridicule the prevelant mania for crinoline.
He had borrowed some flowing locks to adorn his cheeks, and had
surmounted those with a pimping thing called a bonnet, and his nether
limbs were enclosed in what ladies call a "skeleton", that is, a kind
of network of steel, whalebone, or some other substance used to puff
out gowns. This appandage is said to have caused many who saw his
figure to blush; but the extraordinary apparel answered the purpose,
as the man obtained many donations. Plough Monday is an English
institution, just within the ancient boundary which, as regards some
observances becomes more and more effaced. The day is so called because
for the first time after Christmas the husbandman formerly resumed his
ploughing. Brand's Antiquities describe a Plough Monday performance at
Revesby Abbey, the seat of Sir Jos. Banks, Bart, in 1779, the dancing
ploughboys being decorated in ribbons, each having a sword."
Index Terms:
| Locations: |
Stamford, Lincs. (TF0207); Revesby, Lincs. (TF3062)
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| Years: |
Occurred 1859; Perf. 1779
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| Subjects: |
Plough Monday; Brand's Antiquities; Sword
|
| Archives: |
TDRG Archive, Ref. TD00718;
Lincoln City Library, Morris Dancers or 'Plough Jacks' File Ref.L394
|
* indicates data that has not yet been validated against the original source and/or has yet to be completely indexed.
Last Updated Apr 2005 by Idwal Jones.
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