Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-06-23

we WOHutI what part OF Vermont tllc IN
cident occurred.-Frec Press
ECCENTRICITIEs OF A MADMAN.
Mr., lawyer in Vermont, doing
a good business, at once became insane, and
took it into his head to abandon the prac-
tice of law, and engage in basket making.
lie was at first a very awkward hand at this
employment, but, by dint of perseverance,
he soon became very skilIful, and could
weave basket as he had formerly woven
an argument at the bar. lie followed this
business about six months, when taking a
new notion into his head he abandoned it
for that of chair boitomng.
The material used in this occupation was
bark, which he stripped from the trees in
summer, when it peels most easily. Having
come home one day covered from head to
foot with mud, he was asked where he had
been, that he had got so thoroughly be-
daubed. He answered, that he had been
in a neighboring swamp after elm bark, of
which he exhibited strip about forty feet
long
Do you remark this = said he triumph
antly.
Yes; but how does this account for YOUR
being SO muddy 1t isn't usual to find mud
OH the top of a tree
No, but you may sometimes find IL at the
bottom, though I'll tell you how found it,.
i cut the bark near the root of the tree.
and then stripped it upwards, expecting it
would come to an end and break off, aud
run itself out after a while. But it hung
on like a suit in chancery-and stript, and
stript, until 1t run up forty feet aud as strong
as ever. Thinks to myself, there is no
use in pursuing the thing any farther, and
so I'll enter nole prosequi But not to
lose the benefit of what had done-that
was the point to be decided | wished at
least TO save costs-but pshaw | forgot
I'm not lawyer now. Well, as was say
ing, | looked at the subject to see how
could secure the bark. 1t was too strong
for me 10 break off AT any rate, thought
|. there's more ways than one 10 skin cat,
as a butcher would say. III cannot break
this bark, can climb up by it, No soon
or said than done. seized hold Of the
strip, and, placing my feet against the trunk
OF the tree, ran up hand over hand. BY this
method of climbing, you will perceive that
my back must have been downward, and
nearly in horizontal positon--my feet
being braced against the tree, and my head
standing from it ia angle of nearly ninety
degrees. Having arrived at the proper
height, was then in a quandary, how to
gel my knife DOT of my pocket, and how
10 get 4 open when it was out III lei 90
with one hand, was fearful the other would
not hold me. However, says l. its nick or
nothing III try the experiment at any rate
so gripped powerfully, with my left hand
while took out my knife with my right.
and opening it with my teeth, whipped of
the bark as clean as the law would dock an
entail
And what do you think was the result?
why, you came fiat OH your back, of
course ? ~
Right gentlemen ofthe jury-a very cor
rect verdict indeed. l came down fiat in
the mud. Never was a client laid Hatter
on his back than land never was one so
completely bedaubcd with filth aud mud.
But thanks to the yielding nature of the
soil, | saved my bones, aud only brought
away the mischief on my coat. | gained
my cause too-which is more than can
say of all my undertakings.
The company laughed heartily at The ex-
lawyers account of his exploit-while the
latter, hanging his coat up in the sum- said
that the mud, like the old woman's grease
would rub of when it was dry.
lie continued while longer TO follow his
occupation of chair boitoming, when sud
denly becoming sane again, he resumed the
practice oflaw, and has, ever since, prefer
red laying his Opponents on their backs, in
a legal way, to being laid on his own in so
ludicrops manner as that above related
~ y. Transcript. 80