The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-09
Fer Unruly Tongues.

The emancipation OF women from the
oppression of men, and from the thral-
dom Of conyentionahty, being just now
favorite theme with debaters, dramatlsts
and dressmakers, the occasion may be
an appropriate one says the strand
Magazine" for the purpose OF recalling
an article of headgear which was ire
quently worn by the fair sex in the good
old times"
The particular head-dress of which we
are about To treat, although produced in
many ingenious fashions. was never pop
ular with the ladies. and We do not desire
in these progressive and enlightened days
to reintroduce such unbecoming and in
convenient wearing apparel, but to show
the advance that has been made in our
social life, and in the relations between
the sexes since the age Of the pillOry
and the ducking stool. and to draw atten-
ton to a phase Of the past with which
many at the present day may not be
familiar.
few generations back our forefathers
were wont TO infiict upon women certain
punishments, which sadly exhibited their
lack Of gallantry and propriety'. Among
the most curious of these punishtuents
was thai OF the Drank, or Scold's Bride.
This curious and cruel instrument OF
tc-'"re --'~ "~1nlOvcd Nv hnro"" '''"g'
clans and petty provincial tyrants for
the purpose Of ca ng women OF an all
meut vi The tongue 10 which they were
said To be subject.
The Drank, or scolds bride or Cos
sips bride. as the instrument has been
variOusly called. was in very general use
in this kingdom from the sixteenth To
the eighteenth centuries. as is amply
shown by the many illusions To It's APP
plcation. which appear in corporation
and municipal records, and IN some
counties the specimens OF the implement
still existing are sufficiently numerous
10 testify To it's prevalence. In Cheshire
alone no fewer than thirteen examples
are extant, and Lancashire and Stafford
shire each contain five or six. In Derby
shire there is but one.
The Derbyshire Drank Is remarkable
good example. II consists OF hoop Of
iron hinged on either side and fastened
behind. An iron band passes over the
head from back 10 front. where there is
an opening 10 admit The nose of the in
dividual whose misfortune II was TO wear
st. on the left side Of the hoop chain
Is attached whereby the victim was led
through the streets or tethered 10 a post
or wall, on the front OF the bride are
the Initials. 81 G." ana the date, 1858
the year OF the great rebellion.
One OF the most celebrated branks Is
that preserved at Walton on -rha mes,
which Is dated 1898 and is inscribed with
the characteristic coupet:
Chester presents Walton with a Bride
10 eurn "omehs tongues that talk too
The bride preserved at Doddington
Park. In Lincolnshire. was evidently in
tended to bring down as much ridicule
as possible upon the head of the unfor-
tunate wearer. 1t Is In the form OF
mask. with holes for the eyes, and a
protruding piece 10 MT the nose. There
is also a long perforated funneI-shaped
piece projecting from the spot covering
the mouth, suggesting the terribly long
tongue the culprit must possess.
The last time the scold's bride was
publicly used In this country was at
Congleton. in Cheshire, in 1924, but. in the
words OF an eminent statesman "many
things have happened since then" and
II would create no small sensation II AT
the present time We were tn meet a
fin-de- steele lady. led through the streets
by a burly policeman. wearing one of
these uncouth Implements. because, for
sooth, she mad Ventured to raise her
voice in defense of her rights or had
spoken too plainly to an overbearing and
tyrannicai husband.
An Id q, CIub