The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1913-12-11
ODD ENGLISH LAWS
Every Act Of British Subject Can
Be Regulated.
Statute Books Of the Realm Contain
Much That 10 Of Interest Show
Ina How Parliament Regulated
lHe Of the People.

t63 row PSS5SU0S0nI N00osSseo
LHe Of the People.
The ponderous statute books Of the
realm are 4 vast storehQuse OF In
formation for the historian and an
tiQuarian, and even for the merely
curious they contain much that Is Of
interest as showing how, In the long
ago, parliament carefully regulated
the daily life, the food. the clothing,
the amusements, the business. the re-
ligious worship, and even the burial
Of the people Of this country, says
London Tit-Bits.
Most Of the regulations are. Of
course, now obsolete. and many COM
prehensive repeating acts have been
passed In recent years, but there still
remain some little known restrictions
which would cause great consterna'
ton If they were suddenly enforced.
The proper observance Of Sunday Is
insisted on In many old and unre-
pealed statutes. No one can lawfully
be present at any meeting or assembly
Of people out Of his own parish on
Sunday for the purpose Of INDUCING
In any sport or pastime Whatsoever
q prohibition which would tend mate
rally to the reduction Of the poor
rate II It were universally enforced
today, for the penalty. IS I'D. IL to be
devoted to the relief Of the poor. It
is hardly necessary to add that only
lawful games may be INDUCED tn
within the parish.
Thus, the members Of the village
cricket club may legally play a game
Of cricket among themselves on q
Sunday, but they canont play a match
with the team from a neighboring VII
lage, for one of the contesting elev-
ems would necessarily be out Of their
own parish.
Members Of the numerous play pro-
ducing societies may be interested to
know that the act of Charles l. forbid
ding the performance Of plays on
Sunday is still unrepealed.
Exposing or offering goods for sale
On Sunday may still entail forfeiture
Of the wares; no drover, horse cours-
er. wagner, butcher, or higgler may
travel or go to an inn on the Lords
day, and any tradesman, workman,
laborer, or person of like degree who
On Sunday follows his ordinary CALI
Ing works Of necessity and charity
excepted). is liable to penalty of S..
The game OF bowls is q very popu'
lar pastime, but how many Of the
thousands who indulge in it are aware
that 1t is still enacted that mo man.
ner Of person shall at any time play
at any bowl or bowles in other places
out of his garden or orchard" under
a penalty Of Is Sd for each oftense.
Again, It Is unlawful for workmen.
laborers or servants, or for seamen
or fishermen. to play at tennis, dice,
cards, or quoits, except at Christmas
time, and even at that festive season
they must not play in their masters
houses or in their masters presence.
Indeed. any one at all who takes
part In such games as faro. basset,
hazard or roulette, or in any game
played with dice. except backgan,-
man. does so at his peril, for all these
and few others are unlawful games.
Statutes Of 200 years ago still for.
bid US to indulge in lotteries, rafles,
sweepstakes, or any scheme where
by prizes are distributed by lot or
chance. Horse races within ten miles
Of Charing Cross can only be held at
properly licensed places. and any one
taking part in an unlicensed race
may be fined 410 or be sent to prison
for two months.
Such exhibitions as the batting Of
lions. bears, bulls and badgers, cock
lighting and dog fights are prohibited
by old acts Of parliament, and curl.
Gus side light on ancient habits is
found in the still existing enactment
Of Edward l. that fairs and markets
must not be held In the church yards.
The old sumptuary laws, which pre-
scribed the clothes that might be worn
by various classes, have been re.
pealed, but still members of parlia.
ment are forbidden to wear armour or
carry arms within the precincts of
parliament, and no one is to go
armed to any market or fair, but
subjects that are protestants may
have arms suitable for their defense"
A gentleman who INDUCES in pro.
fame swearing or cursing is liable to