Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-16
LEAP YEAR LEGENDS
By William p. Kirku'ood


wished to know who had originate the prac-
tice of spanking naughty children All he
could learn, of course, was that there was
ample historical precedent for such punish
ment, and that IS perhaps even more than one
can learn about the interesting tradition that
in leap year girls may propose without being
considered un beComingly forward.
From away back somewhere comes the
story that the man who established the right
of women to propose in leap year and the
first man to be honored by its practice
was no less distinguished person than Saint
Patrick himself, and that the woman who pro-
posed to him Saint Bridget, in who:e
memory the Fire of Saint Bridget in Kildare
of Leinster" burned for centuries without
being extinguished.
According to this legend, Saint Patrick
having preached the Sarmint that drove the
frogs into the boys, and bothered all the var
mint, including snakes, was one day walking
along the shores of lake, when he was accosted
by Saint Bridget in tears. On inquiring the
cause of the good woman S weeping, the Bishop
was informed that a mutiny had broken out
in the nunnery over which Saint Bridget pre-
sided, the manageable women claiming the
right to pop the question"
Saint Patrick, who was plainly a generous
spirited man, was instantly ready to Concede
the privilege, and suggested that the right be
extended during every seventh year.
Thereupon, the old story goes, Bridget threw
her arms round the good Bishops neck and
exclaimed. ''Arrah, Pathrick jewel, daurn't
60 back to the girls wild such proposall Make
it one year in four"
Bridget. acushla," replied Saint Patrick,
squeeze me that way again, and I'll give
you leap year, the longest of the lott"
Bridget, according to Brewers Dictionary
of Phrase and Fable" which retells the story
on the spot proposed to Saint Patrick him
self. But he, of course, could not accept In
stead of promising to be brother to the good
woman, in order to soften the blow of his
necessary refusal, Saint Patrick promised the
gift of a silk gown, and all was well.
This is good story, and makes good old
deed-thoroughly human and delightful. but,
sad to tell, it lacks all historical sanction 1t
sounds altogether too modern, and seems a bit
like taking liberties with revered personages.
1t serves to show. however, that the traditional
right of women to propose in leap year is
placed rather far back in history.
A Scottish Story
A STORY, giving recognition of the right
of women to propose IN leap year much
later date, has it that in 1928 the Scottish
Parliament passed an act running thus:
"Ordonit that during We reign of her maist
blessed Majestic, Margaret, ilka maiden ladee
of bath high and lowe estate shall hae hberte
to speak We man she likes. Gift he refuses to
tax flir to be his wyf, he sfale be mulct IN the
sum of ane hundrity pundes or less his es-
TAFT may bee, except and alwais gif he can
woman; then he schal be free"
The trouble with this is that the date OF the
alleged act does not correspond with the time
of Margaret's reign. Besides, George Nelson,
who seems to be an authority on Scotch law.
says in an old number of Notes and Queries
that there is no such enactment in the statute
book of Scotland, and comments as follows
Although a hundred pounds perhaps
too high price to pay for the glorious priv
lege of single blessedness, it would have been
too big a fine to exact from bachelor for re-
fusing a forward maiden ladee,' especially if
she was of lowe estate Had such an act
passed, the revolt of man would have been a
dead certainty at once"
This alleged law, then, having no standing.
must be given over.
Common Law Gave the Right
IN 1000, however, "Courtship Love, and Mat
= rimony" curious old book was printed,
and in it is this, which shows that the tradition
was then an old one:
Albeit it is now become part of the
mon laase that as often as every bisSeXtile
[leap] year doth return, the ladies have the
sole privilege of making love unto the
men, which they doe either by lUords Lookcs.
as to them it seemeth proper; and, moreover.
no man will be entitled to the benefit of clergy
who dothe in any wise treate her proposal with