Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1893 — “Gossip’s Bridle.” [ARTICLE]

“Gossip’s Bridle.”

“Chester presents Walton with a Bridle, To curb Woman’s tongues when they bee idle.” This is the inscription on as iron hooping, with a flat piece projecting inward to lie upon the tongue, still preserved in the ancient church of Walton-upon-Thames, in Surrey, England. Tradition says that this bridle was presented to the parish about two centuries ago by a person of consequence, whose name was Chester. Its presentation arose from the singular circumstance of ills having lost a valuable estate through the idle stories of a neighbor. In the days when this curious instrument was in use it was sometimes called a “brank,” and was put upon the head of the offendei and padlocked behind; the wearer was then led through the town, and publicly proclaimed a “gossip” in loud tones, tnat all might hear and be warned.