Signature of the Cross, Signing with an "X"

1874

The mark which persons, who are unable to write are required to make instead of their signatures, is in the form of a cross; and this practice having been formerly followed by kings and nobles, is constantly referred to as an instance of the deplorable ignorance of ancient times.

This signature is not, however, invariably a proof of such ignorance. Anciently the use of the mark was not confined to illiterate persons; for among the Saxons the mark of the cross, as an attestation of the good faith of the person signing was required to be attached to the signature of those who could write, as well to stand in the place of the signature of those who could not write. In those times, if a man could write, even read, his knowledge was considered proof that he was in holy orders. The clericus, or clerk was synonymous with penman; and the laity, or people who were not clerks, did not feel any urgent necessity for the use of letters.

The ancient use of the cross was therefore universal, alike by those who could and those who could not write; it was indeed the symbol of an oath, from its sacred associations, as well as the mark generally adopted. Hence the origin of the expression, "God save the mark," as a form of ejaculation approaching the character of an oath.


The Friendship of Men

I know nothing which life has to offer so satisfying as the profound good understanding which can subsist, after much exchange of good offices, between two virtuous men, each of whom is sure of himself and of his friend. It is a happiness which postpones all other gratifications and makes politics and commerce and churches cheap. For, when men shall meet as they ought, each a benefactor, a shower of stars, clothed with thoughts, with deeds, with accomplishments, it would be the festival of nature which all things announce. — Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Census Forms from British Guiana — "Me name is James Homer"

1899

Lucid

The opportunities which the census affords to eccentric people in the way of furnishing strange answers to plain questions are seldom neglected. In foreign countries, where the standard of education is lower than in the United States, the variety of answers affords astonishing problems to the officials whose duty it is to catalogue them. An Englishman, high in the civil service in British Guiana, gives some ludicrous specimens of native talent, selected from recent census returns.

One citizen gives his name as "John." He is the "head of the family," and by birth "a male." Then in the column of "Profession, Rank or Occupation," he puts down:

"Can't get nothin' to do for the last six months, and can't pay house rent. Has got four children. They in Barbados now, but is coming to Demarara."

Farther down the list, this same column of "Profession, Rank or Occupation" is filled with interesting information. One person's occupation is put down as "sickly." One is "an idler" and another, more ambitious, enrolls himself as "a scoller."

In the column devoted to infirmities, one man protests that he has no "infurrities." The next writes "dito" below this statement, and the next declares he is "romantic" [presumably for "rheumatic"]. A fourth has "no orflections," while a fifth, less content, says he "has been black from birth."

Another gentleman writes, "My wife is a female. She is close washer. She is not inflicted, and is got two boy children and two is dead. They can't read or write yet."

One poor man, ignoring the division of the paper into columns, gives the following pathetic tale:

"Me name is James Homer, i is 32 years old and i works punts in the river. i is married but i keep one servant who died November last year. She name Rebecca Kemp, clothes washer, 48 years, and I too sorry for she." — Youth's Companion.