New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-29
An ODD CUSTOM IN JERSEY.



There exists in Jersey but thrrc alone % all our
Channel Islands. a time-honored and interesting
ceremonial, concerning which we venture 10 say
the generality of readers are unlnforned outsiders
being seldom never invited 70 witness ~ Inc
very earliest records of the little land tell or us
practice : il was in full force and vitality ut the
beginning of the twelfth century, and except that
nowadays it has been shorn OF much OF the ponp
and circumstance which once made ii sort OF
papeaut and added finish and gloss to Its lmpor-
lance il remains useful and eficaclous IN Queen
Victorias reign as il was III that of King john
The procedure to which we allude, and which time
has been unable Ia change, ~ called III obclal IAN
puage Inc Niste Royalc.' Whence IL derives IFS
hOIoritc title is very obscure possibly enough
from some scion of the Duchy 'of Normandy,
when jersey belonged to that province. hav-
ing conducted the proceedings III person as
well for parade As for arbitration ami pecu-
mary cmolumens. liut for many long century
ROYALTY has been typiied only by the presence and
authority OF the chief insular magistrate, by the
cooperation OF his brother Iurats or judges by MS
law advisers, and BY some other attaches OF the
ROYAL Court On a fixed daY once III every SIX
wears and generally before wheat harvest, these
otrcnl n,rcf The connctaile and other municipals
of selected parish near It's church, and after GER
tain examinations OF finances bearing upon the
object Of the visit, and the swearing III OF dozen
good men and ,rue OF the i0callty-as sine qua
non there must be no tie OF blood or marriage be-
tween thcm-and who are 10 act III the capacity
of NOyeurs II. discoveries OF roadway ana road
side rreguaIitiesl, proceed on peraInbulation TO
those roads where il is presumed most faults OF
omission or commission may he hi upon.
Led by the Noyeurs and preceded by lie
lStoLllt. inc SutIll "Io III h'i t'i'i' ii''
his supporters" the gentlemen with the axe and
measuring tape the Royal visitors pass INTO, say;
a narrow shady lane. On either hand are tail
hedges scarcely permitting view OF yellow corn
fields and fruit ladcn orchards overhead are the
thick leafty bOughs Of trees 50 arched and inter-
laced that hardly ray of July sun struggles
through To most persons unacqaintcd with the hablt
of jersey roads 1t seems that no law or mperlec-
ZION can be detected but MesSicurs les NOyeUrs are
sharper Moving at funeral pace ahead, peering
here and there. they presently call q halt that
branch hangs too low 1t IS certainly under tho
regulation of dix pIcds de hauteur' \ report is
made lie NiscOmcs stan can touch It, and 80 Verlles
the defective pitch The Balili AMI his coadutors
consult the bough j. doomed To the axe. but pend
ng the looping, the renter or tenant, or owner OF
the land as tue case may lie. on which the tree
is growing is fined eighteen pence for his neglect or
overs git 4" the law doth give II ana the court
awards it," 4 little further on some oYer-luNur-
liant lramblcs, enticed BY Summer heat and moist
project into the pathway. Again standStIl
again D report: again n brief conference again
an order for the pruning knife: and again one
and six-peEny fine for the careless master of the
offending blackberry bush \ tree has been allowed
10 grow from the enbankment and ITS tru nix
lessons the legal width OF the lane. The same
formnary is gone through; the axe marks II II Is
ordered To he felled within gwen time, or good
many more pence than TIE aforesaid eighteen VIII he
the alncnde mulcted from its proprietor. At
particular spot the road seems to the vigilant de-
tectivcs DE curtard OF IFS t1r proportions. Out
comes the yard measure by the bones OF II. Heller
yea, il is from two 10 three inches narrower than
IL ought To be. so the worthy on whose land the
strait exists is booked by the Creilier rs gentle
incentive TO the future Use of the spade and as
reminder OF " the Ysite Royale" 10 his demesne.