The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-31
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

1Hc HaHie, 1or IL IS not uellHltcly known, though many conjectures have been made and much research expend- ed to clear it up.
 The most probable definition being that of Professor Kingsley, who thinks the epithet blue" was applied to any one who immediately after the res disapprobation on the licentiousness of the times, for manners were free and easy and all kinds of dissipation was openly indulged in without thought of shame.
 Thus, in Hudbras, the hero of a rhyming political satire, in three parts, by Butler, Sir Hudibras is a Presby- terian justice In the commonwealth, who sets out with his square Ralph
 tan independenD to reform abuses, and enforce the observance of the laws for the suppression of popular sports and amusements:
 For his religion, it was fit
 1O hAatCh lilo lSdlHiiiS anu Ulo WASs
 Twas Presbyterian true blue"
 
 It may be of interest that in 1731, the Grub Street. Journal, maintained that the academy figure of Hudibras was Colonel Rolle of Devonshire, with whom the poet Tod dged> for some time. and adds that the name is derived H,IOh oir,t of the county. Others say that Sir Samuel Luke was the original; but whether either of them posed for the character, one thing is sure, and that is that Hogarth illustrated. the satire, and that Edward Ward, who published an imitation of it, calling it "Hudibras Redivvus." was twice t.ln the pill lory.
 The blue laws" are now in the pill lory of the twentieth century public, for tho epithet which characterized certain school of thought in England in the days of the Restoration found it's way into the American colonies, where 1t was applied not only to persons. but to the customs, institutions, and laws of the Puritans. by those who wished to render the prevailing system ridicu- lous, and heap contumely upon the re- ligionists who faced starvation and death for conscience sake in America. am not taking sides as to who first made use of the term blue law" or whether 1t came in at the Restoration, or had its birth in the days of the Covenanters, for the color blue was opposition to the scarlet badge of Charles I. Its adoption was a piece of religious pedantry, the precept being taken from Numbers, xv, 3S: Speak unto the children of Israel, and tell them to make unto themselves fringes on the borders of their garments. put ting in them ribbons of blue. If you accept the code of 1880 as compilation of the earliest laws and customs of Connecticut, you will find that it Is almost verbally copied from the Mosaic Law, and in 1636, three years after the coming of Rev. John 1 to join with other ministers and some | of the ma agistrates, in compiling body ! of fundamental laws. For these he ! went to Leviticus, and codifying its contents in manner which he thought 1 suited to the needs of Massachusetts presented the result to the general court. This code of Moses, His Judi cials," was not adopted, but the laws l that were decided upon, the Body of Liberties" drawn by Nathaniel Ward, the Simple Cobbier of Aggawam," ," were of a character eminently He | braic, and were based in many in- stances directly upon Old Testament lrexts.
 1 We have seen after the Restoration of Charles II, Presbyterian true blue" became a term of derision applied to anything which shattered of Puritan ism, and blue laws" simply meant i Puritanical laws, or laws with blue 1 tinge. For example, hundreds Of years | later a Chicagoan comes to Birming-
 ham and running into Sunday observ-
 ance," gets the "blues' in less than
 thirty days, and sighs for dear old Chi cago where everything Is wide open 1 and each man on the Sabbath doeth l that thing which unto him seemeth the best many of whom rideth to and fro I in their "Tin Lizzies'' without let or 1! hindrance and in case of need supplieth
 them with gasoline. or buyeth new
 tire.
 1 If you study tLe history of the Pill grims and are at all acquainted with the rise of Puritanism, there is noth- ing to excite surprise in the Biblical foundation for civil affairs which ex- isted in all of the New England towns. The close surveillance of the life of the community where the civil authori- ties showed their very dependence upon
 the ecclesiastical by looking to the
 clergy court as to a higher appeal fof
 counsel on doubtful matters, has often
 been referred to with reason as the
 Puritan theocracy of the colonies
 I am not holding brief for the
 blue laws, but do say that in spite of the fact that they have brought down upon the head of the New Englanders much blame for narrowness and intol-
 erance, yet follow the brave little band
 which left England and went to Hol- ] land and thence back to their native country latter to take ship for the in
 hospital shores of northern America,
 not in search of gold, but look for a
 haven where they might worship God after the dictates of their own con
 science. and you will discover the breed that has done much to make these
 United States the greatest nation or . the face of the earth.
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