three o'clock in the afternoon
The pig darted this way and that , slipped nimbly through detaining hands , until , by much handling , his grease was rubbed off , and he was held , a squealing trophy , by a young farmer . One after another the attractions of the square failed , and the crowd surged into the avenue , where it was fed to repletion -- all free of charge . The stomach of man is singularly elemental in its cravings , and not subject to political or any other influence which fails to meet this demand . Long before three o'clock in the afternoon the Town Hall was filled and jammed to its doors with men and women . The farmers were in such high good humour that , laying all masculine prejudice aside , they were determined to witness the last feature of the day 's entertainment , or rather they would indulge in the humour of gratifying their masculine prejudices at the mass meeting . They stamped their feet , they hooted , they looked at the still empty stage and demanded to know where were the leaders of the `` Crinoline Campaign . '' They whispered and nudged each other and shouted ribald laughter .