SCOLDING- SHREWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10908, 28 May 1929, Page 7

SCOLDING- SHREWS.

DR ASTI C Pl’ NISHAIENT

Because, in the year 1(111, a woman known as Aland [in Tielion misbehaved herself by scolding anti abusing her neighbors with reproachful speeches, she was ordered by the Westminster Court of that day to be “fastened to a Routs tayle and so to be drawn through the water to the other side of the Thames.” This unpleasant event is chronicled in W. H. Alanchee’s “The Westminster City Fathers.” To us it seems rather absurd treatment, for the probability is that her temper would not have been unproved as the result of undergoing the watery ordeal. She mighj. be worse than ever in her use of unsuitable language. REDUCING GOSSIP. Rut a punishment such as this was of the most drastic nature, and later we find only sentences of “ducking” Ui the water being carried out. Any woman who became too fond of carrying unnecessary pieces of inl'ormnUon from one neighbor to another was liable to be, lowered into the water. Therefore gossip must have been reduced considerably. And what lrappend to the girl who was so wicked as to come into her mother’s house at unreasonable times in jhc night ? She was ordered to be severely punished. DOMESTICS GF THE AIIDDLE AGES. Such a one was Elizabeth Smith, who in addition disturbed the neighbors and even went so fa r as to break their windows. When told that she would be whipped at the “cart’s tayle’’ she became only more troublesome, with the 1 consequence that the following order was made. Thus said her judges: “She,.shall 110 longer dwell or inhabit with her said mother buf she shall get herself into some honest service at or before the 20th day of this instant September or else to be forthwith committed to Rridwell.” *■-’ Thus the tale ends, leaving ua with sympathy for the girl’s , future mistress, who, - ' having taken the girl as servant, would by the. ordinance of the court have to keep her until some other place was .found! Many gossips of this day were kept quiet- by having a “bridle” fixbd over their faces, to which was ;attached an iron,. pressing down the tongue.