The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-07-04

swallowed up by Royal Proclamation, in
which her majesty, strongly censuring the
praetice Of wearing long Spanish rapisrs Of
preposterous length las being a bullying and
staggering custom, tending to bloOdshed
and public disordor) commanded that on
particular day therein named, certain grave
citizens should repair 10 the city gates, and
there, in public, break alfarapiors worn or
carried by persons claiming admission, that
exceeded, though it were 'Only by a quar-
ter Of an inch, three standard feet in
length.
Royal prOCIamations usually take their
course, let the public wonder never SO much.
On the appointed day two citizens of high
repute took up their stations at each Of the
gates, attended by party Of the city guard;
the main body to enforce the Queens will
and take custody Of all such rebels (f any
| as might have the temerity TO dispute iiiand
, few 10 bear tbs standard measures and in
l struments for reducing all unlawful sword
4 blades 10 the prescribed Dimensions. IN
Q pursuance of these arrangements, Master
d Graham and another were posted at Lud
r Gate, on the hill before Saint Paul's.
A pretty numerous company were gath
1t cred together at this spot, fol, besides the
,r officers in attendance TO enforce the Procla-
10 nation, there was motley crowd of loJk'
Is ers-on Of various degrees, whe raised from
le time to time such shouts and cries as The
,e circumstance called forth. A spruce younl
lc courtier was the first who approached; HI
k, unsheathed a weapon Of Furnished stee
at that shone and glistened in the sun, an
handed it with the newest air to the officer
Nv who, finding it exactly three feet long, re
ed turned it with bow. ThereaPon the ga
in liant raised his hat and crying,"God save III
nd Queen" passed on amidst the Plaudits oil II
for mob. Then came another--a better cou
tier stll-who wore blade but two te
OF long, whereat the people laughed, much
u.s. the disparagement of his honOr's dignity
i'd. Then came third, sturdy old oificer
lily the army, girded with rapier least fot
he and half Beyond her Majesty's pleasures
old him they raised great shout and most
hat the spectators but especially those vi
b., were armorers or cullers) laughed We
itS heartily at the breakage which would ensr
be. But they were disappointed; for the
campaigner, cody unbuckling his swo
and bidding his servant carry it home aga
~. passed through unarmcd, to the great ind
nation of all the spectators. They relieV
"'' themselves in some degree by hoo'ing
clustering fellow with apredigious weap
~ ~ who stopped short in coming in sight OF
'' pre- parations, and after little considelati
:, turned back again; bat all this time no ra
= er had been broken although it was hi
10 noon, and all cavaliers of any quality OR ;
~ r pearance were taking their way tswal
Saint Paurs churchyard.
,., During these proceedings Master G
I' ' ham had stood apart, strictly confning hi
''p' self to the duty imposed upon him, :
taking little heed of anything beyond
lays He stepped forward now as a richly DIRE
h'er ed gentleman on foot, followed BY s
ugh gle attendant, was seen advancing up
uS'' bill.
her As this person drew nearer, the GRO
itin stopped their clamor and bent forward "
ID to eager locks, Master Graham STANDING
we're lone in the gateway, and the stranger c'
ru- ing slowly towards him, they seemed, q
ives were, set face TO face. The nOblcmen
hen he looked one) had naughty and disd'
ora ful air, which bespoke the slight estimat
ira- in which he held the citizen. The eitiz
ene- on the other hand, preserved the resell
hich bearing of one who was not 10 be irswl
ues- down or daunted, and who cared very Ii
'er's for any mobility but that of worth and In
ame hood. 1t was s,perhapE some c0usciousn
we're on the part Of each, OF these feelings in
alks other, that infused more stern express
'ers into their regards as they came closer
- a. gether.
d be "Your rapier, worthy Sir!"