The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-03-03
LEAP-YEAR PRIVILEGES.
Tme-Honored Rights and PrerogatIves of
the Gentler Sex.

the Gentler Sex.
1t is probable that many of the fair
and at least an equal number of the
unfair sex have scarcely bestowed a
thought upon the fact that 1883 is leap
year, in which the ladies' law, as it is
called, may prevail.
In three years out of every four man
has the privilege of popping the ques-
ton, and the annoyance of sometimes
having plain-spoken mo" for the re-
ply. On the fourth year woman may
propose, lift SO please her.
A lady has the privilege in leap year
of suggesting marriage between her.
self and a bachelor acquaintance. In
the event of his refusing, the penalty is
that the ungallant gentleman shall pre-
sent the tender damsel with a new silk
dress.
There is a reservation, however, that
the right to claim this penalty depends
on the circumstance that when she
proposed the damsel was the wearer
of a scarlet petticoat. which Cor little
of the lower portion of which) she must
exhibit to the gentleman, the under
stood idea being that the silken dress
shall cover the petticoat, and thus as
suage dire feminine indignation at the
rejection of her offered hand.
If any of the readers catch a glimpse
in 188S-say in a high wind, or when a
carriage or car is entered, or a muddy
street crossed-of the slightest bit of
scarlet in lady's most comfortable
and usually unexhibited garment, they
may imagine that she has quilted the
house with the dire intent of asking
somebody to marry her or of getting
the silk dress mentioned.
1t is said that in q work entitled
"Courtshp, Love and Matrimony,"
published in 1906, ten years before the
death of Shakespeare, is this explana-
ton regarding ladies' privileges in
leap-year:
"Albeit it is now become a part of
the common lave, in regard to social re-
lations of life, that as often as every
bissextile year doth return, the ladies
have the sole privilege, during the time
it continueth, of making love unto the
men, which they do, either by wordes or
lookes, as to them it seemeth proper;
and, moreover. no man will be entitled
to benefit of clergy who dothe in any
way treate her proposal with slight or
contumely."
This quotation is given by a cores
pendent of Notes and Queries, but there
are some words in it which were
scarcely in common use in Shakes
peare's time.
Social relations of life is COM
paratively modern phrase; and though
the word relations" is used once by
Shakespeare, social" never was.
Oddly the word "contumely," though
not given in "Ayscough's Concord.
ance," occurs in 1.-THE proud mans con.
tumely," which is put into one of Ham
let's most thoughtful soliloquies.
The following is the statute in the
old Saxon code referringt to leap year:
albeit, as often as leape yearre
dothee occure, the woman holdeth pre-
negative over the MEME in matters OF
courtships, love and matrimonie; SC
that, when the lady proposeth it shall
not be lawful for the man to say her
nae, but shall entertain her PROPOSAL
in all guide curtesie."
A Scotch statute of 1928 reads as fol
lows:
1T is statut and ordaint that during
the refine of her maist blessit majestic,
ilk forth year, known as leap year. ilk
maiden ladye of bath high and low
estait shall have liberty to bespeak we
man she likes; albyit, if he refuses to
take her to be wifi, he shall be mulctcd
in the sum of one pound (fD or less,
as his estait mai he. except and avis il
he can make it appear that he is be
trothed to one woman, and then he
shall be free"
Leap year naturally makes us think
of marriage; and we hope all the young
ladies and widows will be bold enough
to 'pop the question:" and do it with
out blushing or stammering. Now il
your opportunity,-Troy IN ~ Times