Maine:  The Way Life Used to Be

 

By:  David Deschesne

Fort Fairfield Journal, March 16, 2016

 

   Our society has come a long way over the past 100 years with all of our technological and industrial advances.  But have we really gone foreword as a society, or backward?  Are we a more moral and decent society today, or less?

   In looking at a 100 year-old Laws of Maine, one can see what society deemed unacceptable behavior, then contrast it with where we are today and reflect on if we really are better.  Here are some laws that were on the books in Maine in 1916.  These laws are from an original hard cover book published for the Maine Legislature entitled, The Revised Statutes of the State of Maine 1916.  Note, the fines are in 1916 money, to figure an equivalent in today’s dollar value, multiply the fine by 20. The header titles are mine, for reference.  This is a partial listing.

 

Abortion

   Whoever administers to any woman pregnant with child, whether such child is quick or not, any medicine, drug or other substance, or uses any instrument or other means, unless the same was done as necessary for the preservation of the mother’s life, shall be punished, if done with intent to destroy the child and thereby it was destroyed before birth, by imprisonment for not more than five years, or by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars (Ch. 126, sec. 9)

 

Adultery

Whoever commits adultery shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five years, or by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.  (Ch. 126, Sec. 1)

 

Blasphemy & Profanity

   Whoever blasphemes the holy name of God by cursing, or contumeliously reproaching God, His creation, government, final judgment of the world, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost or the Holy Scriptures as contained in the canonical books of the Old or New Testament, or by exposing them to contempt or ridicule, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than two years, or by fine not exceeding two hundred dollars. (Ch. 126, Sec. 30)

 

Distributing Criminal news to minors

   Whoever knowingly sells, lends, gives away or shows to any minor, any book, pamphlet, magazine, newspaper or other printed paper devoted to the publication, or principally made up of criminal news, police reports or accounts of criminal deeds, or pictures and stories of lust or crime; or circulates, posts or causes to be circulated or posted in any conspicuous or public place, any picture, handbill or poster containing obscene, indecent or immoral representations...shall be punished in the county jail not more than six months, or by fine of not less than twenty-five, nor more than one hundred dollars, or by both imprisonment and fine. (Ch. 126, Sec. 25)

 

Fornication

   If an unmarried man commits fornication with an unmarried woman, they shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than sixty days, and by fine not exceeding one hundred dollars. (Ch. 126, Sec. 7)

 

Homosexuality/Bestiality

  Whoever commits the crime against nature, with mankind or with a beast, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one, nor more than five years. (Ch. 126, Sec. 3)

 

Immoral Literature

  Whoever imports, prints, publishes, sells or distributes any book, pamphlet, ballad, printed paper or other thing containing obscene, indecent or impure language, or manifestly tending to the corruption of the morals of youth, or introduces into a family, school or place of education, or buys, procures, receives or has in his possession any such book, pamphlet, ballad, printed paper or other thing...shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison...not exceeding five years, and by fine not exceeding one thousand, nor less than one hundred dollars.

 

Profanity

   Whoever, being of years of discretion, profanely curses or swears, shall, on complaint made within twenty days thereafter, be punished by fine not exceeding two dollars; and if, after conviction, he is again guilty, by fine not exceeding five dollars. (Ch. 126 Sec. 31)

 

Profane Music

   Whoever in connection with any show or entertainment, whether public or private, either as owner, manager or director, or in any other capacity, uses, or causes or permits to be used, a phonograph or other contrivance, instrument or device, which utters or gives forth any profane, obscene or impure language, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ch. 126, Sec. 28)

 

“Shacking Up”

   If any man and woman, one or both being at the time married to another person, lewdly and lasciviously cohabit; or, married or unmarried, are guilty of open, gross lewdness and lascivious behavior, they shall each be punished by imprisonment for not more than five years, or by fine not exceeding three hundred dollars. (Ch. 126, Sec. 5)