The Landlord's Ten Commandments
This Ten Commandments parody is printed on the inside of a folded novelty card that served as an advertisement for the Esquimalt Hotel. For the front and back of the card, see Free Pass, Esquimalt Hotel, Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada, ca. 1920s.
This humorous list circulated as early as the mid-nineteenth century in different versions with different titles, including "The Ten Commandments of the Tavern and Hotel Keepers." See, for instance, "The Tavern-Keepers' Ten Commandments," Historical Magazine, April 1867, p. 234.
The Landlord's Ten Commandments
1st -- When thirsty, thou shalt come to my house and drink, but not to excess; that thou may live long in the land and enjoy thyself for ever.
2nd -- Thou shalt not take anything from me that is unjust, for I need all I have and more.
3rd -- Thou shalt not expect too large glasses, nor filled too full, for we must pay our rent.
4th -- Thou shalt not sing or dance, only when thy spirit moveth thee to do thy best.
5th -- Thou shalt honour me and mine that thou mayest live long and see me again.
6th -- Thou shalt not destroy or break anything on the premises else thou shalt pay double the value; thou shalt not care to pay me in bad money, not even say chalk or slate.
7th-- Thou shalt call at my place daily. If unable to come I shall feel it an insult, unless thou send a substitute or an apology.
8th-- Thou shalt not abuse thy fellow bummers nor cast base insinuations upon their character by hinting that they can't drink too much.
9th-- Thou shalt not take the name of my goods in vain by calling me beer "hops" for I always keep Silver Spring Ales, and am always at home to my friends.
10th-- Thou shalt not so far forget thy honorable position and high standing in the community as to ask the landlord to treat.
The Landlord's Ten Commandments
This Ten Commandments parody is printed on the inside of a folded novelty card that served as an advertisement for the Esquimalt Hotel. For the front and back of the card, see Free Pass, Esquimalt Hotel, Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada, ca. 1920s.
This humorous list circulated as early as the mid-nineteenth century in different versions with different titles, including "The Ten Commandments of the Tavern and Hotel Keepers." See, for instance, "The Tavern-Keepers' Ten Commandments," Historical Magazine, April 1867, p. 234.
The Landlord's Ten Commandments
1st -- When thirsty, thou shalt come to my house and drink, but not to excess; that thou may live long in the land and enjoy thyself for ever.
2nd -- Thou shalt not take anything from me that is unjust, for I need all I have and more.
3rd -- Thou shalt not expect too large glasses, nor filled too full, for we must pay our rent.
4th -- Thou shalt not sing or dance, only when thy spirit moveth thee to do thy best.
5th -- Thou shalt honour me and mine that thou mayest live long and see me again.
6th -- Thou shalt not destroy or break anything on the premises else thou shalt pay double the value; thou shalt not care to pay me in bad money, not even say chalk or slate.
7th-- Thou shalt call at my place daily. If unable to come I shall feel it an insult, unless thou send a substitute or an apology.
8th-- Thou shalt not abuse thy fellow bummers nor cast base insinuations upon their character by hinting that they can't drink too much.
9th-- Thou shalt not take the name of my goods in vain by calling me beer "hops" for I always keep Silver Spring Ales, and am always at home to my friends.
10th-- Thou shalt not so far forget thy honorable position and high standing in the community as to ask the landlord to treat.