Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-05-14

that is, to forty stripes save one
If the theft was of some small arti.
Gle, the offender was doomed TO
carry on his back the flag Of the
United States, which consisted of
thirteen stripes. In either case.
some able hands were selected to
execute the sentence, so that the
stripes we're sure to be well laid
on.
This punishment was followed by
a sentence of exile. He then was
informed that he must decamp in
so many day IS and be seen there no
more on penalty of having the num-
Der of his stripes doubled.
For many years after the law was
put in operation in the western part
of Virginia, the magistrates them
selves were in the habit of giving
those who were brought before them
on charges of small thefts, the lib
erty Of being sent to Jail or taking
a whipping. The latter was COM
monty chosen, and was Immediate
ly Inflicted, after which the thief
was ordered to clear out.
In some instances stripes were
inflicted, not for the punishment of
an ofiense, but for the purpose of
extorting a confession from sus-
pected persons. This was the tor
ture of our early times, and no
doubt sometimes very unjustly in.
flicted.
If a woman was given to tattling
and slandering her neighbOrs, she
was furnished by common consent
with kind Of patent right to say
whatever she pleased, without be.
ing believed. Her tongue was then
said to be harmless, or to be no
scandal.
With all their rudeness, these
people were given to hospitality,
and freely divided their rough fare
with neighbOr or stranger, and
would have been offended at the
offer of pay. In their settlements
and forts, they lived, they worked,
they fought aud feasted, or suffered
together, in cordial harmony. They
were warm and constant in their
friendships. On the other hand
they were ravengeful in their re-
sentiments and the point of honor
sometimes led TO personal cOmbats.
If one man called another a liar, he
was. considered as having given
challenge which the person who re-
ceived it must accept, or be deemed
coward, and the charge was gen
orally answered on the spot with a
blow. If the injured person was
decidedly unable to fight the az
gressOr, he might get a friend to
do it for him. The same thing took
place OH charge of cOwardice, or
any other dishonorable action. \
battle must follow, and the person
who made the charge must fight
either the person against whom he
made it, or any champion who chose
to espouse his cause. Thus circum-
stanced, our people in early times
were much more cautious of speak
ing evil oftheir neighbors than they
are at present.
Something's pitched battles occur.
red, in which time, place, and sec.
Onds were appointed Beforehand
| remember having seen one of
these pitched battles in my fathers
fort, when boy. One Of the young
men knew very well beforehand
that he should get the worst of the
battle, and no doubt repented the
engagement to fight ; but there was
no getting over 1t. The point of
honor demanded the risk OF battle.
lIo got his whipping; they then
shook hands, and were good
friends, and were good friends after.
wards.
The mode Of single combat in
those days was dangerous in the
extreme. Although no weapons
were used, fists, teeth and feet we're
employed at will; but above all,
the detestable practice of gouging,
by which eyes were sometimes put
out, rendered this mode of fighting
frightful indeed. 1t was not, how
ever, so destructive as the stiIetto
of an Italian, the knife of a Span.
lard, the small sword of the French.
man, or the pistol of the American
or English duelist.
Instances of seduction and bas-
tardy did not frequently happen in
our early times. | remember one
instance of the former, in which the
life Of the man was put in jeopardy
by the resentment of the family to
which the girl belonged. Indeed,
considering the chivalrous temper