The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-23
CURIOUS STATUTES.
Some Of the Old Maine Laws which Are
Not Now Enforced,
(kennebec Journsi.)


The revised statutes Of Maine contain
many curious, and, at this late day. Of
tsntimss ridiculous laws the attempted
enforcement Of which would bring great
dsIight to the hearts OF the newspaper
men ana rsformekS In this Vicinity. The
statutes Of every state are burdened with
more or less dead wood of this nature and
Maine 10 no except II IN to the general rule.
In 1908 comes the next revision OF the
Stat, statutes, this revision being made
regularly every ten years
A few Of the most obsolete provisions
will be undoubtedly relegated to the
back shelf at that time.
One curious law to be found in the
book Is to the effect that whoever rides In
the highways with n naked scythe. sharp
ened and hung In a snatch, snail forfeit
to the State tie sum Of 81. No one has
been arraigned charged with breaking
this statue for at least several days. At
any rate NO one has In this locality.
1t is to many persons, no doubt, sur
prising fact that the Maine law permits
military companies under arms passing
to and from their parade gtound, all
persons going to or from funeral, or TO
church gu Sunday ID pass over any toll
bIidee free.
One Law which is probably not strictly
observed to the letter 10 that which pro-
vides that the jailer shall furnish at the
expense of the county. to each prisoner
under his charge Bible, and tdat the
prisoners shall be instructed In reading,
writing and arithmetic one hour every
evening except Sunday.
The law deals harshly with thote who
would meet one another on the Held OF
onor. Any ran who lights duel or
acts as second or surgeon, no matter
whether homicide results from the conflict
CT not, or any man who delivers or
accepts challenge or encourages tas
meeting may be sent to prison for 20
years or fined $40 0 In addition to these
penalties he is not permitted to hold any
position Of honor or trust for 20 years
after the conviction.
A man who 10 cony ictsd OF blasphemy
or profanity may be sent to prison fer two
years or lined 500.
Tho law permits no public amussmeuts
of any description to lie given on Sun
day nor does 1t allow an business to
be tran sacted on that day. An inDholder
or dodgers to abide In his houss drinking
or passing their time idly Is liable to he
fined 81 for the III 81 Cffense. After that
the penalty increases with each surss-
quent otfense.
: Promoters of cock, dog, bull fights and
contests of like nature may, II found
guilty, be inlI rlsonei for six months or
fined $500. This is by no means one OF
the laws which have outllyed their use
fulnsss and prosecutions under this stat
ute are N ore or less frequent, ana are in
direct ratio with the sporting propenslties
of the neighborhood.
The laws Ieatriotins the sale OF i'm
pure foods and meat under certain condi-
tions ere positive and any infringement
of them is sure TO briug the arm CT the
law down on tho offenders 10 shoIt order
IL Is not lawful to ssll the meat of calf
which was killed before it had reached
the age OF four weeks,
The sale of hreaIm, explosives. toy
pistols for the explosion of percussion
caps and blank cartridges without
license is frowned upon, although the toy
pistol part of the statute is practically
dead letter here In Maine.
But few people ara probably aware that
IL is unlawful to offer for sale prize
candy in packages containing or purport-
ing to contain gift or prize. This
onense Is punishable by tmprisonmsnt>
for 30 days or Tine Of SO.
Any person who uses any subtle craft
for the sake OF gain, such as palmistry,
fortune telling or phrsnolcgy may, IL the
charge Is pressed and proven, be incar-
cerated In jail fer the tsrm of 30 days
There are only few OF the amusing
laws which sun grace the big sheepskin
volumes that contain the statutes OF the
State. Others are contained in the book
which are equally interesting and which
would, II enforcsd, cause no end OF work
for police ctfceTs.