The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-10-01

I.lSdemeanors of children between the
ages of and IA. Over that age they
we're required to receive themselves
! the penalty of their own misdoing.
For breaking any Of these laws the
first time, the punishment was a
severe reprimand from the chief eX-
Hcutive of the town. II any daring
child escaped for Il moment the fam
lily corral to frolic upon the public
highway, this untoward action would
not fail to bring his parents into open
disgrace. For Il second otfense of the
same kind fine of five Shillings was
imposed. and for the third offense. ten
shllllnGs. Adults who could not pay
the fines We're subject to a public
whipping ut the hands of the con-
stable. who was not allowed, how
ever. to deal out more than five blows
us an equivalent for the ten shillings>
fine. and less for the smaller one.
In the Puritan days in Boston an
officer of the law was given charge of
every ten houses in one neighborhood
to see that the observance of Sunday
was kept. His authority was ST.
preme. He was not only allowed to
keep Il watch upon who came in and
went out of ones house. but he had
the right to go inside himself to see
just what was being DONE
He WAS an inspector. There We're
inspectors for everything that might
mlawfully happen. Among others,
there was the inspector of youths. who
sat with them in church to keep them
quiet during the preaching of the
sermon. The last benches of the low
err floor were reserved for small boys,
and the rear benches of the gallery
for boys of Il larger growth. Knowl-
edge of the American boy to-day will
aid any one who needs such help in
determining whether or not these in
Spectors earned their wages.
But not even Puritan adults enjoy
ed going to church if the records of
history are read Alright. They went
because they had to and they didn't
listen to the sermon either. If they
had been in the habit of so doing. the
stories told of them would never have
been recounted. One of these COLI
Germs an old woman who. when she
was asked if she had understood the
sermon. answered by eXclaiming that
she wouldn't have so much presump-
ton as to try to understand what the
good man was saying.
1t is also told of a minister of the
early time that he tried to instill good
cheer into the hearts of one member
of his flock by exclaiming after the
service:
Sunday must be great blessing to
you who work so hard during the
week?"
''Indeed. SIR" the good churchman
replied. II work hard enough all the
week, that's certain. But then come
to church Sunday and Just sit down
end think about nothing"
He didn't reply that he went to
sleep, although he probably did. For
sleeping in church was so much a GUS
tom among the early Puritans that one
of the church officers was a man who
went up and down the aisles during
the services armed with a long pole
with hard round knob on the end of
1T. With this, in no particular gentle
manner. he touched the heads of those
who, sleeping, snored too loudly.
When they were dismissed finally it
vas in regular ordained manner,
Which ruled that the first pews must
he emptied first, because here the pco-
pie of rank and wealth sat. Occu-
pants of rear pews We're required to
wait until their betters had left the
church. Outside the meeting house no
one was allowed to loiter to say kind
~ word to a neighbor, on pain of be-
ing caught by an ever vigilant officer
of the law and hurried away to the
pillory. The best part of the modern
church scrvice-the kindly shaking of
hands after the sermon-was consid
cred crime in the days of the Puri-
tam The modern habit, also of be-
ginning to think of departures before
the end has arrived is seen in the light
of historical facts to be honestly in
lerited.