The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-08-13
C0uRT-"A LADY ARRESTED ron opsTRuc.
TING TliE SIDE. .wAiks


officer complained of young anil remark.
ably handsome lady for obstructing tho
side walks of Washington street by too
great display OF crinolinc. AS it is un-
dcrstood that the lady is highly connected,
we will call her Mary Smith, and not expose
her truo name. 80.
before the complaint was read, Judge
Russell inquired rs to tho Whereabouts of
the prisoner. The officer replied that tho
lady WIS waiting in the entry that himself
and two others had endeavorci to squeeze
her through the door-ways, but they were
too narrow, ana ho wished the Judges ad-
vice in the premises.
The Judge sat that it was an cxtraor1i-
nary case the Constitution guaranteed to
every one an open trial, and he would not
hold session in the entry even to please q
lady. Under the circumstances, he recon-
mendcd that Miss Smith be moved from
the entry to the front door, and he thought
that she must spread considerable not to be
able to take her place in the prisoners
dock.
The experiment was tried and found 10
answer admirably-thc door being some
twenty feet wide very little compressinr
was nccdcd-and with frown of indi"na-
ton upon her pretty brow, Miss Smith
found herself face to face with the Judge,
and listened to the complaint which was
read to her.
Tho officer testified that half a dozen
times during the week he had been Obliged
to step from tho sidewalk to enable tho
defendant to pass. Once lie camo very
near being run over by passing carriage,
and he inquired of the Judge whether the
city government would have allowed a pen
ton to his widow in case he had been kill
cd.
The Judge said that hc should reserve
his opinion until some time next week on
that point, and inquired whether the cir
cumfercnce of the lady was not produced
by natural causes.
The police officer said that lie was the
father of sixteen children, and if he was
lucky, he expected an addition to his G,mi,
ly noxt month. lie had never known Ills
wife to occupy half SO much space rs Miss
Smith, and he hoped she never would, us hc
dislikcd twins.
The Court rcbukcd the levity of the man,
and told him lie must trust to proyi-
dencc.
The officer said that lie should but il
Providence continued to favor linn he
meant to petition for an increase Of salary,
and he thought he ought TO have it.
The Court intimatcd that his remarks
were irrelevant to the case, and inquired il
he had any further testimony to offer.
The officer said that he had. lie had
requested the prisoner two or three times
not to stop on the sidewalk, as people were
unable to pass wiuAess going into the street,
which at tlhes was ainssaassaicnitt to ladies
wearing pare: -solsd thoess owing to the
outrassalss - rsin, which thc thorough.
fares were watafsd.
The Court in Summing up, said that the
evil was one ofgreat magnitude, and should
be checked by vigorous measures. There was
no statute under which too great n display
Of crinoline came, but he should take the
responsibility of inflicting a fine Of So and
cost, and lie hoped that it would be warn
ing.
This fine was promptly paid, and Miss
Smith was dischargcd.- boston Herald.
---.>s~
Be Gentle at Home. There arc few fam
lilies, we imagine, anywhere, in which love
Is not abused as furnishing the license for
'mpoliteness. A husband, father OF brother,
will speak harsh words 10 those lie loves
best, ard those who love him best, simply
because the security Of love and family
pride keeps him from getting his head bro
ken. 1t is shame that man will speak
moro impolite!y, at times, to his wife or sis
ter than lie would to any other female, ex-
cept low and vicious one. It is thus that
the"honcst affections Of mans nature
prove to bo weaker perfection to woman
in the family circle Chan tle restraints Of
society, aAd that a woman usually is in
debted to the kindness and politeness oflife
10 those not belongingHs her own house.
hold. Things ought not SO to be. The
man who, because it will not DO resented,
'nflicts his spleen and bad temper upon those
iot his hearthstone, is small coward, and
very mean man. Kind words are circu-
lat'ng mediums between true gentlemen and
ladies at home, and no PQlish exhibited in
society can atone for the harsh language
and ,,disrespsctful trestsnent atoo Often in
du'gedin between those Bound together by
Gods own ties Of Blood, and the stiIl''mor
sacred bonds Of conJugat fove.-Lits H.