OLD-TIME FINES. Household Arrangements Three Hundred Years Ago.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 165, 14 August 1886, Page 4

OLD-TIME FINES. Household Arrangements Three Hundred Years Ago.

What would Eervants in the present day pay to euch a cove of rules and regulations as was adopted 300 years ago in" tho household of Sir J. Harrington, translator of " Ariosto " ? A servantabaent from prayers to bo fined 2d ; for uttering an oath Id,' and the same sum for leaving the door open ; a fine of 2d, from Lady-day to Michaelmas, for all who are in bed after 7, "6r out after 9 ; a fine of Id for any beds unmade, a fire unlit, or candle box uncleaned after eight; a fine of 4d for any man detected teaching the children obscene words ; a fine of a penny for any man waiting without a trencher or who ia absent at a meal ; for any one breaking any of the butler'a glass, l£d ; a fine of 2d for any one who hai not laid the table for dinner by 10.30, or the supper by 6 ; a fine of 4d for any one absent a day without leave ; for any man eti iking another a fine of Id. ; tor any follower vigiting the cook, Id.: a fine of Id. for any man appearing fna foul chirr, broken hope, untied shoes or torn doublet; a fine of Id. for any stranger's room leftforhoursafterhe be dreesed ;a fine of Id, if the hall be not cleaned by 8 in the winter and 7 in summer ; tlie porter to be fined Id if- the court gates be not shut during meaU ; a fine of 3d if the stairs be not cleaned every Friday after dinner. All theee fines <,Vere deducted by the steward at i the quarterly payment of the men's wages. "' Scottish American Journal."

A gentleman eqtered a" telegraph office. ( " I beg pardon but as I iwae coming along this afternoon I ea\v myriads pfcfliea settled on your wires. Can yousuggeßt any explanation of tHe pKehoiienbn,?" "About" wKat • tinie' was ,' if? I *. sir?" 1 "'About 4 o'clock' ■ " Ah I'tliat accounts fof it '^that's the time I Bend the sugar and 1 honey quotations."