SOM OLD AMERICAN LAWS.

Inangahua Times, Volume 23, 25 November 1878, Page 2

SOM OLD AMERICAN LAWS.

(From (Jolden I four*.) There is a long. Hal of these quaint nM lawn, a f«w of which will sulUoo to exhibit tlio eoniition of n^cioty in which they existed. Some of them display n nnrrowhors of mind nml ignorance which soom now almost indelible, jjnd which happily have \vi(?i .similar prejudices boon lonjj since mvept. away, viz :—•' No Quaker or Disocntor from (ho cstabliihod womhip of Iho D»tiin?->n rIi:>11 ho nllowoJ to jfivo a rofo f.»r tlio oli-clioti of mn^islrito or any other oflicor. 1 ' N r h foo.l or loil^inß slmll he ollorcd to n Q-uikor or a horotio.' *No prioHt shall nbido in Ihc Dominion. Ifo shall bo bunuhoil, nml suffer douUi on his ro urn.' • IVioatu niny bo soix^l by nny- j o«ie without n wnvrnnt.' 'No ono shall run on Iho Sabbuth dny, or xrrik in his enrden, or elsewhere, oxeopt rovorontly to and from mooting' 'No one shall trnyel, | cook riluuls, muko Ijeds (?), sweep houses, cut hiiir,'"on llio SnbbAih d»y." 'No woman shall kiss her nhililron on <ho Sabbalb, nor on a foaling dny. 1 (Wo can imßßino lliw l«v» n» a ponnm-e on fnsting dtyi, but why should mnternal lovo ba smotherod on n Sunday P— ' the Sabtralh was mndo for imm.' *No mini*, lor shall keep n cohool.' 4No ono Miall roavl Common Prayer J3aok.s, kofp Clnistmn« or not days, eat meat pies, dnnee, piny onrds, or pluy on any instrument of musio oxcopl thn drum, trumpet, nnd ji»w'»»httrp,' ' 'l'<> pioknn car of corn from h neighbour* garden shall bo doomed theft. 1 Woll, then, • bluo laws * still •xitt in lomo of our English |trorinces, \vh»voa child gathering n ilower from n gnrdoii in imprisoned for thoft ! And again, ft ' bluo law,' but of a moro rational character, has bcou parlially rccstubt

'Midi among uh aa the following :— • Tli<3 Selectmen, ou finding any children ign >r« unt, inuy tttko thdiu away from tlioir uiifcnts or guardians, nod put thorn in bolter hand* at tho expense of their parents.' Some others of these old Inns might bo creditably reestablished amon; up, and perhaps lo the purification of KnxlUh society ; us for instance — ' A man that Strikes his wifo ahull bt fined £10.' ' Adultery nhsll bo puimhed with, death.' ' Murriod persons thall liv\> togother or bo impiinoned.' ' A drunkard shall have a master appointed by tho Selectmen, who are to deb.ir lam from the liberty of buying and soiling/ and ' Whoever limit publish a lie to Iho prejudiflo of his neighbour shall be sol, in. tho stocks, or whipped ten siripos.'