Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-12-12

whom he recommeudei. He was
admitted to the court, and on ac-
count of his very youthful appear
ance was viewed with derision by a
lot of "slfyster' lawyers from the
Police Court, who we're there as spec
tators. ss sGs ICFa a
The case was plain one; the bond
was produced in court and spoke for
itself. Antonio confessed to it, and
it was evident that he was about to
leave the court room lighter by e
pound. The learned doctor told
Shylock he must be merciful, but
Shylock said she didn't have to-
Then the learned doctor reminded
him that the equality of mercy is not
strained" (no strainer having been
inyented at that time for anything
butnew milk He,said that Antonio
must pay the forfeit if the jew re-
fused mercY-no power in Venice
could alter the decree. Shylock in
the very ecstacy of joy, cried ga
Daniel come to Judgment! yea q
Daniel!'' on account of the striking
likeness he bore to Dan Rice. The
learned doctor told Antonio that he
must bear his breast; Shylock -four
ished his butcher knife fiendishly,3
and prepared to carvehim He even
had balance in the pociet of his
duster to weigh the flesh with, so
complete were his arrangements for
making the affair success He &C.
knowledged that he had neglected to
have surgeon ready to stop the
blood because it wasn't $50 nomina-
ted in the bond'
Antonio had lost all his money, and
having sense enough to know that
life without ducats was uncomfortable.
he calmly prepared for the funeral
obsequies. Exposing his wooden un-
dershirt, he bade the Jew proceed
with his carving He was about to
do SO, when the learned doctor re-
minded him that the bond did not
give him one jot of blood. If, in
securing his pound of meat, he shed
one drop of Christian claret, his
lands and goods were ''confscate to
the state" Then. too, if he cut less
or more than pound, his life as
well as his second hand clothes, was
forfeit. This was poser 1
Shylock seeing that Antonio wasn't
his "meat," offered to take the prin-
cipal, but was reminded by the learn
ed doctor that as he had already re-
fused it in open Court he must take
the forfeiture or nothing That was
not all; Shylock's goods were divid-
ed on the spot, one-half going to
wards paying the national debt. and
the other half going to Antonio,
against whose life he had conspired;
but Antonio, with great generosity,
turned his half oyer to the Jews
daughter who had married the negro
enabling him to retire from
the profession with handsome fare
wei Benefit and set himself up in the
patent medicine business.
The learned doctor turned out to
be the charming widow Portia, who
had assumed the part to save her
lovers friend. Her success greatly
the champions of "Wo-
mans Rights" in demanding that the
learned professions should he thrown
open to the softer sex She was uni
ted to Rossanio, and lived long and
happily. being often called upon by
her neighbors to decide difficult
points.of law. Antonio got appoint,
ed Whisky Inspector on a small sal
ary, and retired with a magnificent
fortune in few weeks.
Of Shylock only rare and faint
glimpses have been obtained until
he met with such q mastery repro
duction in Edwin Booth.