The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-16
Blue Laws for Children.

Connecticut was exceptionally for
tunate during the colonial period. its
people being blessed with material
prosperity, political freedom and good
sense in government But It was not
Utopia. One Of its shortcomings was
In the treatment of delinquent chill
dren. 1t is a paradox that the same
ideals that showed enlightened care
for children by establishing free
schools early IN the history of the COL
ony also punished transgressions OF
children with pitiless severity.
This side Of the picture Is exhibited
by WILLIAM b. BAILEY, professor Of
practical philanthropy az Yale. in n
pamphlet entitled Children Before
the Courts In Connecticut" and issued
by the Children's Bureau Of the
United States Department Of Labor.
The rlgors Of the blue laws toward
young offenders are illustrated by
these two provisions Of the code Of
1850, which were reenacted In 1872:
III any Child or Children above six
teen years old. and OF sufficient under
standing, shall Curse or Srntte their
natural Father or Mother. he or they
shall be put to death. unless It can bs
sufficiently testifed. that tho Parents
have been very unchrstlanly negligent
- r,HArn, an
provoked them by extreme and cruel cor
rection that they have been forced there
unto 70 preserve themselves from death
or manning. E1od. xiii. Levitt
ks Exod. xxi rs.
III any man have a stubborn or re-
beIlious Son OF sufficient understanding
and years. viz. Is years Of age. which
will not obey the voice OF his Father. or
the voice Of Mother. and that when they
have c,fsstened him ne will not hearken
unto them; then may his Father or
Mother. being his natural Parents. lay
hold on him and bring him TO tho mag
tstrates assembled in court, and testify
uIltO lllOItls TINT NicII SoOh 40
and Rebellious and win not obey their
voice and Establishment, but lives in sun
dry notorious Crimes. such Son shall be
put to death. Deut xxi 40. Al"
The death penalty was imposed on
children for dozen other offences, IN
Guiding blayphemy. witchcraft and
idolatry. at must be remembered -
Professor BAILEY remarks, shat
these laws were not passed to meet
possible exigencles, but that the penal
ties were actually enforced" The
stocks, the rillory, fiogging and brand.
ing were penalties for minor offences
About the time Yale College was be
ing founded any person more than IL
years old convicted Of perjury wa.
table to be "set on the Pillory by the
space Of One whole Hour,
and have both his Ears Nailed, >
among other punishments
For older children lying was punish
able by fne or the stocks or whipping
ION the naked body not exceeding Ter
Stripes" for frst offence; and for
all such as being under the age Of dis
erection fourteen years. that shall Of
fend in lying, their Parents or Mas
; ters shall give them due correction
and that in the presence of some
officer"
Swimming on the Lords Day was q
crime. SO was 'unseasona BILE meeting
Of young people in the evening after
the Sabbath" The child who should
CONTEMPORARY behave himself TO
ward the Word preached, or the Mes
senger thereof or like a son
Of Korah cast upon his true Doctrin,
or Himself any reproach" was to be
"convented and iproved openly" by
a magistrate, ana for a second OFFENCE
was 10 stand for two hours openly