I hope it was more of a cultural wink than a real thing that people told their children to believe, but I've never been sure. I am not a good test case for any of these household myths. I knew about human sexual reproduction by the age of three. There was a maybe-baby coming.
But yes, absolutely, re: imprisonment.
It's a good argument and unexpected in the book!
"All in favour of imprisonment?" said the Squire sadly.
All the hands were held up.
"And what's more," said Thomas Trecarrel, "I've been speaking to one and another through the day, and we think it had better be the safest kind of imprisonment we can think of. His Reverence's suggestion was the best—lock him up in the Church tower."
"Who's in favour of the Church tower?" asked the Squire.
All the hands were held up.
"You've made a very cruel decision," said the Squire. "Just think what it will be like for the poor wretch to spend his life shut within four stone walls, with only a little narrow window to look out of."
"There's a beautiful view of woods and hills from the window," said John Treguddick.
"With nothing to do," said the Squire.
"He's going to peal the bells for me," said the Parson.
"He'll have a better fate than he deserves," said Thomas Trecarrel.
"He'll have a horrid fate," said the Squire. "Just think. What greater torment can there be than looking out of a narrow window at green hills that you can't walk over, and flower-filled woods that you can't ramble through? It's like setting a pitcher of water where a thirsty man can't reach it. And what comfort will there be in ringing bells that only tell him how slowly the hours pass?"
"There's nothing like bells to make you feel soft-hearted," said the Parson. "I shouldn't wonder if they brought him to repentance."
"I should wonder very much," said the Squire. "I've never known bells make people sorry for their sins, though I have known kindness make them sorry. Think again, gentlemen, think again."
(The Squire loses the vote, but wins the argument, since it is kindness that does make a change without even trying imprisonment first, I said elliptically about a book I am not even actively attempting to persuade anyone to read.)
no subject
I hope it was more of a cultural wink than a real thing that people told their children to believe, but I've never been sure. I am not a good test case for any of these household myths. I knew about human sexual reproduction by the age of three. There was a maybe-baby coming.
But yes, absolutely, re: imprisonment.
It's a good argument and unexpected in the book!
"All in favour of imprisonment?" said the Squire sadly.
All the hands were held up.
"And what's more," said Thomas Trecarrel, "I've been speaking to one and another through the day, and we think it had better be the safest kind of imprisonment we can think of. His Reverence's suggestion was the best—lock him up in the Church tower."
"Who's in favour of the Church tower?" asked the Squire.
All the hands were held up.
"You've made a very cruel decision," said the Squire. "Just think what it will be like for the poor wretch to spend his life shut within four stone walls, with only a little narrow window to look out of."
"There's a beautiful view of woods and hills from the window," said John Treguddick.
"With nothing to do," said the Squire.
"He's going to peal the bells for me," said the Parson.
"He'll have a better fate than he deserves," said Thomas Trecarrel.
"He'll have a horrid fate," said the Squire. "Just think. What greater torment can there be than looking out of a narrow window at green hills that you can't walk over, and flower-filled woods that you can't ramble through? It's like setting a pitcher of water where a thirsty man can't reach it. And what comfort will there be in ringing bells that only tell him how slowly the hours pass?"
"There's nothing like bells to make you feel soft-hearted," said the Parson. "I shouldn't wonder if they brought him to repentance."
"I should wonder very much," said the Squire. "I've never known bells make people sorry for their sins, though I have known kindness make them sorry. Think again, gentlemen, think again."
(The Squire loses the vote, but wins the argument, since it is kindness that does make a change without even trying imprisonment first, I said elliptically about a book I am not even actively attempting to persuade anyone to read.)