Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1888 — The Origin of Leap Year. [ARTICLE]

The Origin of Leap Year.

The custom observed every fourth year of permitting the fairer sex to assume the right and prerogatives appertaining to their brothers during tne remaining three is a very ancient one. When it originated is not definitely known, but a law enacted by the Parliament of Scotland in the year 1188 is doubtless the statutory recognition to the custom. The law was as follows: “It is statut and ordaint that during the reiueof Her Maist Blissit Megestie, ilk fourth year, known as Leap Year, ilk maiden ladye of baith high and low estait shall hae liberty to bespea ye man she likes, albeit, gif he refuses to tak hir to be his wyfe, he shall be mulcted in ye summeof ane dundis or lees, as his estate moit be, except awis gif he can make it appear that he ie betrothit to ane ither woman, that he then shall be free.” _