The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-11-14
Talkists in Old Times.

Wag 700 lreeiy ABOUT ner neighDors, used
to be compelled to stand upon block in
the market-place, with heavy stone dang
ling from her neck, shaped either like a
bottle, loaf, an oval dish, or representing
woman putting out her tongue unless
she happened to be rich enough to buy
permission to exchange the shameful stone
for bag of hops tied round with red
ribbon. In 1857, woman of Sandwich,
in Kent, venturing to take liberties with
the good name of "Mrs. Mayorcss, had
To walk through the streets Of the town,
preceded by man tinkling small bell,
bearing an old broom upon her shoulder,
fr9m the end Of which dangled wooden
mortar. Staifordshire scolds did not get
off so easily. They had to follow the bell
man until they showed unmistakable signs
of repentance, debarred from giving any
one bit of their mind by the branks, or
scolds' bride, an ingenious arrangement Of
metal hoops contrived to clasp the head
and the neck firmly, while the paddock
behind remained locked, while a spiked
plate pressed upon the tongue, so as ef-
fectually to preclude its owner making any
use Of ii. The branks, however, was not
peculiar to Staffordshiro; it was in use in
Scotland centuries ago. In 1874, two
quarrelsome Glasgow bodies were bound
over to keep the peace, on pain Of being
"brankit" Pennant says the authorities
of Langholm, in Dumfriesshire, always kept
one in readiness for immediate use, and
plenty of specimens are yet to be seen in
different places in England. One pre-
served at Walton on Thames is of thin
iron, with less terrible bit than that Of
the Sta0ordshire branks, being only a
piece of fat iron, some two inches long, to
keep the wearcr's tongue quiet by simple
pressure. This instrument bears the date
Of 1888 on an inscription running:
Chester presents Walter with bride
To curb women's tongues that talk so idle
A eouplet explained by story of Mr..
Chester losing an estate through mis-
chief-making woman's tongue, and com
memorating his loss by presenting Walton
with its scolds' bride. DIR. Plot, the
Stafordshire historian, is loud in his praise
of this odd device for reforming clamorous
women. ~ look upon it, says he, "as
much to be preferred to the cucking stool,
which not only endangers the health of
the party, but also gives the tongue liberty
'twixt every dip, to neither of which this
is liable; it being such bride for the
tongue as not only quite depriyes them Of
speech, but brings shame for the transgres-
sion, and humility thereupon, before it is
taken off.
The worthy antiquary was mistaken in
supposing the cucking. stool to be one and
the same thing with the dueking-stool,
whereas it had nothing whatever to do
with the cold-water cure for hot-tempered
g -. CO. LII,
demned to abide the derision Of passers-by
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lifted up behind, the chair, of course,