The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-28
SELLING WIVES IN MARKET
Some of the Customs Which Marked tshs
Reigns OF the Norma Kings.

Some of the Customs Which Marked ths
Reigns OF the Norman Kings.
The earlier Norman kings hay On
straw, and land was held at Ayleshary
on condition of finding this commodity
for the royal couch Some of the old
tenures were exceedingly eomforta bis
things. The service was nominal and
the pay was gold. The kings cham
pion. who rode into Westminster hall
to challenge all corners who disputed
his masters title, was handsomely re
warded. One of the Russians obtained
grant of land in Dorsetshire for put
ting away the pieces after playing at
chess with the king.
A gentleman at Stafford, who hed
the kings stirrup when he came TO that
town, enjoyed perpetual grant OF a
fish pond. Some obtained grants on
condition of saying daily psternoster
for the throne. Others gave an annual
snow ball or an annual rose in exchange
for most substantial privileges.
At Norwich-when Norwich was .
fishing station, though It is eighteen
miles from the sea-there was, by in
aenture, an annual delivery of her
rings 30 the king. A certain nun Der
Of fish from the first yield were put in
twenty-four ''pyes'' well favored with
spices, and sent up to town. 1t was I'M
derstood that there should be at least
Eve herrings in every pye, but occa-
sionally the officers of the royal house
hold had to complain OF short measure.
The wolf and boar hunting tenures
involved by no means nominal serv-
ice in the early part of our history, nor
could the gentlemen in Hants be said
to have sinecure whose business 1t
was Ito keep in order the female do
nestle servants and dismenber EHaie-
factors" The latter must have been
by far the lighter task. Women were
always bad TO manage antA some oae
invented the art OF treating theEa prop
erly
The old art of management included
the right, or, at any rate, the castom
Of selling wives In the open market
There is no room for doubs on this sub
ject after many instances which Mr..
Andrews has given by chapter and
verse The common speople had a no
ton that husband might lawfully dis
pose of his wife in this way. provided
he conducted the transaction in some
public place and delivered her TO the
purchaser with halter about her neck.
The sales were duly reported IN the
newspapers of the period, without any
special comment, as items of every day
news.
''Tn some instances market tolls were
collected similar to those charged for
animals brought to the public market"
The business was usually conducted by
auction, bat now and then it was man
aged by private tender. One of the
lowest prices is six dimes and guild OF
tobacco. In one instance a writer
ironically instanced the increasing
value of women In the market as GER
tain criterion OF advancing civilization,
the price of wives at Salish6e having
risen from half guinea to three and
one-half guineas
At Carlisle, in 1882, farmer offered
his wife for sale in the following
terms: Gentlemen, it is her wish, as
well as mine, to part forever. Sac has
been to me only born serpent /
took her for my comfort and the good
Of nay home; but she became nav tor
mentor, domestic curse, night in
vesion and daily plague" He then
thought proper to say word or two
on 1.-The bright and swnny side" of the
picture. '>ahe can read novels and
milk cows.
She can laugh and weep with the
same ease that you can take a glass of
ale when thirsty. She can make bat
ter and scold the maid; she can siHg
Moore's melodies and piat her friils
and caps I therefore offer her, with
all her projections and imperfectieas,
for the sum of fifty shiliings."
Good old tinesl But stay. IN 1882,
at Alfretou, Derbyshire. a husband sold
his wife IN public house for q glass Of
beer.-London News,