of Religion, should Jefferson be President. We certainly
have a good _Sample_ (thus early under his administration) that
its state will be improved.

* * * * *

Although doubts have often been expressed as to the authenticity of certain
Connecticut "Blue Laws," it is probable that many laws which have
sometimes been referred to as such were in the early days of the colony
actually in force,--as the following, which we find in an old paper. They
are certainly not much stronger than laws of the time in Massachusetts.

No one shall be a freeman, or give a vote, unless he be
converted, and a member in full communion, of one of the Churches
allowed in this dominion.

No one shall travel, cook victuals, make beds, sweep house, cut
hair, or shave, on the Sabbath day.

No woman shall kiss her child on the Sabbath, or fasting-day.

No one shall run on the Sabbath day, or walk in his garden, or
elsewhere, except reverently to and from meeting.

No one shall read common prayer books, keep Christmas, or set
days, make minced pies, dance, play cards, or play on any
instrument of music, except the Drum, Trumpet, or Jewsharp.

No food or lodging shall be offered to a Quaker, Adamite, or
other heretic.

If any person turns Quaker, he shall be banished, and not
suffered to return but on pain of death.

No Roman Catholic priest shall abide in the dominion; he shall be
banished, and suffer death on his return.

Some years ago, a law-book which had belonged to Jonathan Trumbull,
containing the early statutes of Connecticut, was in the possession of a
Boston gentleman,[1] who informs us that at the end of the volume, in
manuscript, were found reports of "Brother Jonathan's" adjudications of
small cases which he tried as "justice of the peace." Among them was one
where "His Majesty's tythingman" entered a complaint against Jona and Susan
Smith for a "profanation of the Sabbath;" namely, "That on the ---- day of
---- during Divine Service on the Lord's Day _they did smile_." The
culprits were adjudged to be guilty of the offence, and severally fined
"five shillings and costs." This book was shown to the late Professor
Agassiz, who examined it with great interest and then made the following
remark: "I find here evidence of the difference between the Calvinism of
Switzerland and the Calvinism of America. I wa