Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-24


the social sensation Of the season in the
fashionable circles of Louisville.
/ am off tonight for New York, but
expect to miss the connection, as usual,
on the way, and may have to spend Sun
day in Washington. More anon. NJ.
How sinners were Punished in
Olden Times.
Virginia was styled the Old Domin-
ion" because during the protectorate Of
Cromwell something like an attempt was
made to invite Charles ii, it is said, then
a refugee, to establish an independent
dominion within this territory. Many
of the so-called blue laws OF Virginia
are in their way, as laughable 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 to poke fun at our ancestors,
or rather, as we should say, at our neigh
bors' ancestors.
Well, the blue laws of Virginia
these are few extracts:
In 1910. attendance at church twice
every Sunday was enjoined, upon pain,
for the first faSlt, to lose their provi-
sions and allowace 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
laws were subsequently modified as fol-
lows: That every person should go to
church Sundays and holidays, or lie
neck and heels that night and be slave
to the colony the following week; for the
second offence he should be slave for a
month; and for the third, year aud
day"
1852. Every person who refuses to
have his child baptised by lawful min
lister (of the church of England) shall be
amerced two thousand pounds oftobacco.
The whole liturgy of the Church of Eng
land shall be thoroughly read at church
or chapel every Sunday.
1868" If any Quakers, or other sep
aratists whatsoever in this colony as
sembled themselves together to the
number of five or more, of the age of
sixteen years or upwards, under the pre-.
tense of joining in religious worship not
authorized in England or this country,
the parties so offending shall forfeit
and pay, for the first offense, five hun
dred pounds of tobacco, and for the
third offense shall be banished the col
ony." Puritanical intolerance indeed,
Mr.. Royalistl
They did not let people travel on
Sunday 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 US see: 1862 = Enacted,
That the Lords day be kept holy, and
no journeys be made upon that day, un-
less upon necessity And all persons
inhabiting in the country, having no
lawful excuse, shall every Sunday resort
to the parish church or chapel" Good
that was jolly. Again: "The court in
every county shall cause to be set up
near the courthouse pillory, pair of
stocks, a whipping-post and q duck
ing-stool, in such place as they shall
think convenient; which not being set
up within six months after the date Of
the act the said court shall be fined five
thousand pounds of tobacco Funny,
decidedly; but the funniest part of this
tale is the ducking-stool. This was
sort of beam or pole, moving on pivot
at the middle and having a seat fastened
at the further end, wherein scolding
woman was conveniently let down and
ducked in pond or stream of water
This was a favorite pastime of the
royalists in early days. l have never
discovered that the Puritans practiced
ducking in New England. Not they.
They were too straight-laced for any
such amusements. The method OF pun
ishing scolds was introduced into the
city Of New York by the English royal
ists-most uhgallant fellows-not by the
Dutch
But one more, and then l will close:
1679-"The first offense of hog stealing
shall be punished according to the for
mer law to pay one thousand pounds of
tobacco, and in case of inability, to serve
two years in prison upon a second con-
viction the offender shall stand two
hours IN the pillory, and lose his ears;
and for the third offense he shall be tried
by the laws Of England, as in the case Of
felony" Poor hog stealerl This was
hard on him "a predicament truly
laughable.