THROUGH THE FRAY

A TALE OF THE LUDDITE RIOTS

BY G. A. HENTY



PREFACE


My Dear Lads:

The beginning of the present century, glorious as it was for British
arms abroad, was a dark time to those who lived by their daily
labor at home. The heavy taxation entailed by the war, the injury
to trade, and the enormous prices of food, all pressed heavily
upon the working classes. The invention of improved machinery, vast
as has been the increase of trade which it has brought about, at
first pressed heavily upon the hand workers, who assigned all their
distress to the new inventions. Hence a movement arose, which did
much damage and for a time threatened to be extremely formidable.
It had its ramifications through all the manufacturing districts
of England, the object being the destruction of the machinery, and
a return to the old methods of work. The troubles which occurred
in various parts of the country were known as the Luddite Riots,
and the secret body which organized them was called King or General
Lud. In the present story I have endeavored to give you an idea
of the state of things which prevailed in Yorkshire, where, among
the croppers and others employed in the woolen manufactures, was