The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1871-06-29
slue Laws Of Virginia.

Blne Laws Of Virginia.
How SINNERS WERE PUNISHED IN oLDEN
Virginia was styled the cold Domin-
or" because during the protectorate Of
Cromwell something like an attempt
was made to invite Charles H., it is
said, then refugee, 10 establish an in
dependent dominion within her terri
tory. Many of the so-called "blue
laws" Of Virginia are, in their way, as
iaughable as those of any other of the
colonial governments. We may well
wonder if posterity will laugh at us in
future time, twenty years from now,
as We love in the present generation
10 poke fun ut our ancestors, or rather,
as we should say, at our neighbours an
cestOrs.
Well, the "blue laws" Of Virginia
these are few extracts:
In 1910, attendance ut church twice
every Sunday was enjoined "upon
pain, for the first fault, to lose their
provisions and allowance for the whole
week following; for the second, to lose
said allowance, and also to be whipped !;
and for the third, TO suffer death" The
law was subsequently modified as fol-
lows, the Governor publishing several
edicts: "That every person should go
TO church Sundays and holidays, or lie
neck and heels that might, and be u
slave to the colony the following week !:
for the second offensc he should be q
slave for month; for the third year
and day."
do wish we had such funny law
in our time. 1t would make the lazy
folks get up early in the morning on
Sunday.
1862" Every person who refuses to
have his child baptized BY a lawful
minister (of the Church Of England)
shall be amerced 1000 lbs. OF tobacco.
Tho whole liturgy OF the Church Of
England shall be thoroughly read at
church or chapel every Sunday"
1865" If any Quaker or other sep
sratists whatsoever in this colony u.s.
semble themselves together to the num-
Der of five or more, of the age of l6
years or upward, under the pretense of
joining in q religious worship not au-
thorized in England or this country,
the parties SO offending shall forfeit
and pay for the first offense, 500 pounds
Of tobacco, and for the second offense
shall be banished from the colony"
Puritanical intolerance, indeed, Mr..
Royalist!
They did not let the people travel on
Sundays in Connecticut. They tell
amusing stories about the selectmen
stopping people, on the highways there
in ancient times. Well, they did moth
ing Of the sort in Virginia. OF course
not. Let rs see:
1862" Enacted, that the Lords day
be kept holy, aud no journeys be made
on that day, unless upon necessity.
And all persons inhabiting in the cOun-
try, having no lawful excuse, shall
every Sunday resort to the parish
church or chapel" Good; this was
jolly. Again.
1.-The court in every country shall
cause to be set up near the courthouse,
pillory, pair of stocks, a whipping
post, and ducking stool, in such places
as they shall think convenient, which
not being set up in six months after
the date of this act, the said Court shall
be fined 5000 pounds of tobacco"
Funny, decidedly; but the funniest
part Of this tale is the ducking or cuck-
ing stool. This was a sort Of long
beam or pole, moving on a pivot at the
middle, and having a seat fastened at
the further eLd, wherein a scoldins
woman being placed, was conveniently
let down and ducked in . pond or
stream Of water.
This was favorite pastime of these
royalists in early days. l have never
discovered that the Puritans ever prac-
ticed it in New England. Not they.
They were too straight-laced for any
such amuscmcnts. And the method of
furnishing scolds was introduced into
this City Of New York by royalist Eng
ish-most ungallant fellows land not
by the Dutch, and the practice pre-
vailed here for long time. We have
city ordinance decreeing that one be
,rected as early as 1892. The machine
hen stood on the wharf in front of the
Did Stadt Hays or City Hall in Coen-
tes slip.
But one more and have done.
1879" The first offense of hog-steal-
ing shall be punished according to the
ormer law Ito pay 1000 pounds Of to-
bacco, and in case of inability, serve
FwO years } upon a second conviction
he offender shall stand two hours in
he pillory and lose his ears; and for
he third Offense he shall be tried by the
avs Of England, as in case of felony"
Poor hog-stealer! This was hard on
ina prcdicament truly laughable.-,
srening Post.
Flowers and Chlldren.
In an article in the Nav number of