The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-11-04

One Forbids Britons 10 Eat Meat On
Wednesdays Under Penalty Of
Months imprisonment.


England has some of the strangest
laws of any country in the world. OF
course, they are not enforced. but they
are unrepealed and liable TO enforce
ment at any time il the occasion ever
came TO use them. The strangest is
concerning transgression Of the Sab
bath.
Sunday, indeed, ought to be day of
terror for anyone who has any regard
for hoary statutes. If man fails TO at
tend church on the Sabbath he rendera
himself liable TO n fine of 25 cents for
each offense; and IL his family is both
large and undevout Sunday will make
serious hole in his weeks income.
III he is prepared to risk this penalty
in order TO enjoy row on the river or
the Serpentine, the law again lays it's
hand on his shoulder and another fine
awaits him. fine scorns church and likes
recreation, and spends his Sunday in
Exercising any worldly labor, business
or work of his ordinary calling" his
misguided thrift may be rewarded with
fine of SIPS and two hours enforced
penitence in the stocks.
If he opens his shop and conducts his
business openly on Sunday. he will nat
urally expect TO be fined. 1t is not long
since two Bradford hairdressers had TO
disburse a 62h-cent fine and $3.50 for
costs for shaving customers on Sunday,
in defiance TO the Lords day observ-
ance act" What added poignance TO the
penalty was the knowledge that the law
had been set in motion by rival hair
dressers who objected to Sunday work.
The man who wishes TO drive on the
Sabbath, even IL il be TO church, must
beware of the lynx eye of the law;
for under an old statute, still in force,
his horses and carriage may be inn
pounded unless he can prove that his
driving was work of necessity. This
statute presumably includes cycles and
adds another terror TO the life of wheel
men.
To send a child to fetch your supper
beer is an offense in the eyes Of the
law. although il is "honored" by thou
sands of breaches every day; and if
you want 10 grow your own tobacco,
She law steps in and forbids il under
heavy penalties.
Perhaps the most curious Of these
ancient statutes is one which forbids
you TO eat meat on Wednesdays under
penalty Of months imprisonment;
so that the honest citizen who enjoys
mutton chop every week is unconscious
ly laying up months imprisonment
for every mistaken indulgence. Under
this statute alone most of us would
probably spend our lives in enforced
fasting in jail
The law-abiding citizen who avoids
meat on Wednesdays and eats stur-
gcon, simply drops from the frying pan
into the fire; for the sturgeon is not
for such as he. and may only grace
royal tables. Under these vexatious
statutes the last vestige of mans
freedom seems TO vanish. He cannot
even listen Mt a neighbours keyhole 10
make sure that he is not being SLAM
dered without risk of spending his next
few weeks in prison.
IL YOU are a land owner and the high
road runs through your land you must,
under a 600 years old statute, clear
away all trees or shrubs within 200
yards OF the road. so that there may be
no ambush for the wary highwayman.
AS YOU cannot work on Sunday, you
are not allowed 10 beg on Monday or
any other day; you cannot even shear
your sheep in winter, allow flower pots
OF your maid 10 stand outside your
window; and you must, when called
upon, go TO the help of policeman,
even at the risk OF having your head
brolxen.-ph PHILADELPHIA Times