IS IT AIM ART?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 47, 8 February 1944, Page 6

IS IT AIM ART?

TRADE OF THE PUBLICAN

interesting old document

Tin 1944., it might be doubted | that the trade, ol' publican required anything that involved the learning of an art. Yet 100 years ago in London this belief predominated, as an interesting document in the possession of Mr W. E. Ouston, of Studholme Street, Morrinsville, testifies. This document bears witness to the fact that on the 101 ii of May, 1844, M.r Ouston's grandfather, Boswell Curling, son of John Curling, a victualler, of 24 Queen Street, Cheapside, ~in the city of London," was duly apprenticed to Joseph Kingrave, citizen innlioldcr, for the purpose, according to the. document, of learning the secrets of the trade. This apprenticeship was for a term of seven years and Mr Kingrave was paid £24 for his services in teaching and instructing, or causing to be taught and instructed, ''his said Apprentice in the same Art and Mystery which lie useth, finding to hijs apprentice, Meat, Drink, Apparel, Lodging and all other Necessaries, according to the custom of the City of London during the said term." For the privilege of gaining an insight into this "Art and Mystery" Bos well Curling was, according to the mode of the times, expected to adhere very strictly to certain regulations laid down for apprentices. He was not permitted to be married during his term of seven years. Nor could he "haunt Taverns or Playhouses nor play at Cards, Dice, Tables, or any other unlawful Games, whereby his said Master may have loss." It is rather interesting to note there that playhouses were, then apparently considered on a par with taverns in regard to the evil effect they produced on the young mind. To-<day's parallel would, presumably, be to class picture theatres as a similarly bad influence. The idea common to those times of the dignity of labour was stressed where the apprentice was bound to serve his master faithfully and "his Secrets keep, his lawful Commands everywhere gladly do. He shall; do no damage to his said Master, nor see it be done of others; but * that he to the utmost of. his power shall let, or forthwith give Warning to his said Master of the same. He shall not waste the Goods of his said Master nor lend them unlawfully to any. But in al'l things as a faithful apprentice he shall behave himself towards his said Master and al'l his during the. said Term."