The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-07-07
Extracts from the Connecticut Blue Laws.

1
an idea of the strange character of their
prohibitions. As the substance only is
given In the transcription, the language
Is necessarily modernized -
No quaker or dssenter from the es.
tablished worship of the dominion shall
be allowed to give vote for the cleo
ton Of magistrates, or any officer.
No food or lodging shall be afforded
to quaker, adamite, or other hereto.
If any person turns quaker, he shall
be banished, and not suffered to return,
but upon pain of death.
No priest shall abide in the domin.
ion he shall be banished, and suffer
death on his return. Priests may be
seized by any one without warrant.
No man to cross river but with an
authorized ferryman.
No one shall run on the sabbath.day,
or walk in his garden, or elsewhere, ex-
cept reverently to and from meeting.
No one shall travel, cook vituals,
make beds, sweep house, cut hair, on
the sabbath. day.
No woman shall kiss her child on the
sabbath or fasting-day.
The sabbath shall begin at sunset on
Saturday.
To pick an ear OF corn growing in
neighbours garden shall be deemed theft.
A person accused of tresspass in the
night shall be judged guilty, unless he
clear himselfb by oath.
When it appears that an accused has
confederates. aud he refuses to discover
them, he may be racked.
No one shall buy or sell lands without
permission of the selectmeh
A drunkard shall have master ap.
pointed by the selectmen, who are to
debar him the liberty of buying or SELL
ing.
Whoever publishes lie to the preju.
dice Of his neighbor, shall sit in the
stocks or shall be whipped fifteen stripes
No minister shall keep school.
Men.stealers shall suffer death,
Whoever wears clothes trimmed
with gold, silver, or bone lace, above
two shillings by the yard, shall be pre-.
sented by the grand jurors, and the se-
lectmen shall tax the offender at E3O0
estate.
A debtor in prison, swearing he has
no estate, shall be let out, and sold to
make satisfaction.
Whoever sets fire in the woods, and
1t burns house, shall suffer death and
persons suspected of this crime shall be
imprisoned without benefit of bail.
Whoever brings cards or dice into
this dominion shall pay fine of e5.
No one shall read common-prayer,
keep Christmas or saint.days, make
minced pies, dance, play cards, or play
on any other instrument of music, ex-
cept the drum, trumpet and Jews sharp.
No gospel minister shall join the peo-
pie in marriage; the magistrates only
shall join in marriage, as they may do
it with less scandal to Christs church.
When parents refuse their children
convenient marriages, the magistrate
shall determine the point.
The selectmen, on finding children
ignorant, may take them away from
their parents
A man that strikes his wife shall pay
n fine of el0; a woman that strikes her
| huoDlii bS VIC COuIt
directs.
A wife shall be deemed good evidence
against her husband.
Married persons must live together
or be imprisoned.
No man shall court maid in person
or by letter, without first obtaining con-
sent of her parents; fj penalty for the
first offence; elO for the second; and
for the third, Imprisonment during the
pleasure of the court.
Every male shall have his hair cut
round according to n cap.
PUNISHMENTS.
From the eally records of Massachus-
etts we learn that the following singu-
lar punishments were inflicted in that
colony two hundred years ago:-
Sir Richard Salstonstall, fined four
bushels of malt for his absence from the
court
Josias Plaistowe, for stealing four
baskets of corn from the Indians, to re-
turn them eight bas' cts again, to be
fined e5, and hereafter to be called
Josias, not Mr.. as he used to be.
Thomas Peter, for suspicious of SLAM
der, idleness, and stuhbornness, is to be
severely whipped and kept in hold.
Capt. Stone, for abusing Mr.. Ludlow
by calling him juStass, fined el0O, and
prohibited coming within the patent.
Joyce Dradwick to give unto AleXan-
der Becks 20s., for promising him mar
riage without her friends consent, and
now refusing to perform the same.
Richard Turner, for being notoriously
drunk, fined CO.
Edward Palmer, for his extortion in
taking 32s. ID. for the plank and work
of Boston stocks, fined e5, and sentenc.
ed to sit one hour in the stocks.
John Withe bound in el0 to good be.
havior, and not come into the company
of his neighbor Thomas Bells wifi
alone.
CHOOSE WIsELY.-It is a bitter lessor
to learn that friends prove false, but al
who are called so are not friends, for
people mistake and wrong themselves
by placing confidence where it doesnot
belong.
A true friend cannot be made in day
nor is the opportunity ofdaily occurrence
that person worthy of ones full con
iidence and friendship may be found.
In this world there are no emotion
higher than those of friendship, except
ing mothers love.