Thou shalt not, in Chariton at least ....

In the midst of news reports about Iowa's current legislative season, I got to wondering about how Chariton set about guarding the public and private morality of its people back in the early days --- when Lucas County was a far more rough and tumble sort of place than it is these days.

So among other reports I found this set of ordinances, adopted by City Council on Jan. 9, 1880, and effective upon publication in Chariton newspapers --- in this case, The Leader of Feb. 14.

What follows is a transcription of Sections 1-8 of Ordinance No. 21:

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ORDINANCE NO. XXI

An Ordinance defining certain offenses, and providing for the punishment of the offenders.

Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Chariton.

Section 1. No person shall, within the limits of the city, use any abusive, profane, blasphemous, obscene or offensive language to or about any other person.

Section 2. No person shall use any profane, blasphemous, vulgar or obscene language in or on any public place within the limits of the city.

Section 3. No person shall make, or cause to be made, any loud, boisterous or unusual noises to the disturbance or annoyance of any other person within the city.

Section 4. No person shall disturb or annoy any place of worship or person therein worshipping, or any lawful assembly of persons congregated together, by any rude, boisterous or unbecoming language or behavior in or near the place of worship or place of assembly within this city.

Section 5. No person shall, within the city limits, follow the avocation of a prostitute, neither shall for the purpose of prostitution, resort, or go to a place where a prostitute stays or is kept.

Section 6. No person shall, within this city, publicly appear  in a state of nudity, or in an indecent or obscene dress, or in a dress not belonging or appropriate to his or her person or sex, or make any indecent exposure of his or her person in a state of undress before any window fronting on any street or alley, or be guilty of any lewd or indecent conduct before any one,  or in any public place sell, or offer to sell, or exhibit to any person, any lewd or obscene book,  picture, paper, publication or representation, or perform any indecent or obscene play or representation on the stage, or take part, either publicly or otherwise, in playing or performing, or assisting in the playing or performing of any indecent or obscene play.

Section 7. No person shall, within in the city, stand for service, or exhibit, or cause to be stood for service or exhibited, any stallion, jack, bull or boar, unless entirely excluded from the public view, or the view of any private family.

Section 8. No person shall, within the city, publicly, or so as to be seen or heard by the public, or within hearing or sight of a private residence, play at billiards, pool, ten pins, pigeon hole, carondolet, cards, quoits or any other games of amusement or chance on the Sabbath day.

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I'm mildly confused by use of the term "avocation" in the ordinance to describe the labors of a prostitute. I'd always thought of this as more of a profession than a pastime, but then perhaps usage has changed during the 143 years since these became law.