Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 September 1895 — Peace or War. [ARTICLE]

Peace or War.

In the olden days, when the spear was used as a weapon of war, men had to be very careful how they carried it If they were in a strange country and bore their spears with ths point forwards, it was supposed that they were bent on mischief, and was regarded as a declaration of war. If, on the other hand, they carried the spears on their shoulders, with the point backwards, their visit was taken as a visit of friendship, and there was no disturbance of the peace.