5. Illinois once recognized American as the officially recognized language in the state
Another oft-repeated myth is that of an Illinois law which recognizes American, rather than English, as the official language recognized by the state. Illinois did enact such a law, in 1923, but after 46 years of the state’s residents continuing to speak and be taught English the law was amended in 1969. Still, the myth persists and is repeated in numerous websites which claim the law as being in force on the books. The myth is one of several laws in the state which gain credence through repetition but have no basis of fact. Another is a law in Chicago which prohibits fishing while wearing pajamas, which was first reported in 1964 by the Chicago Tribune.
Chicago also prohibits giving whiskey to dogs, flying kites within the limits of the city, and spitting on the sidewalk. Throughout the state of Illinois, barbers are prohibited by law from applying shaving lather to the faces of their customers using their fingers. Bars in Chicago are banned from selling alcoholic beverages to anyone deemed mentally unfit. It is a misdemeanor in the town of Joliet to mispronounce the town’s name, and the miscreant who does so is subject to a fine. Moline, Illinois makes it illegal to ice skate on an outdoor pond from June to August, a law which is likely seldom broken.
