Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-12-27
DECEMBER q. is

The justice had sent 10 Padna for a
learned doctor to determine the case, which
was one Of considerable interest, especial
ly TO Antonio. *a s.@ '4ae
The learned doctor pleaded illness, and
sent another doctor more learned than him
self, and better doctored, whom he recon.
mended. He was admitted to the court,
and on account of his very youthful ap-
pearance, was viewed with derision by
lot of "shyster' lawyers from the Police
Court, who were there as spectators.
The case was plain one. The bond
was produced in court, and spoke for it.
self Antonio confessed to it, and ir was
evident that he was liable to leave the
court room lighter by pound. The
learned doctor told Shylock he must be
mercifol, but Shylock said he "didn't
have TO-" Then the learned doctor re-
minded him that athe quality of mercy is
not strained" (no strainer having been in
vented at that timc'for anything but new
milk.) He said that Antonio must pay
the forfeit if the Jews refused mercy-no
power in venice could alter the decree
Shylock, in the very ecstacy of joy, cried
--"A Daniel come to judgment! yea,
Daniel! on account of the striking like
ness which the learned doctor bore to Dan
Rice. The learned doctor told Antonio
that he must bare his breast Shylock
fourished his butcher knife fiendishly, and
prepared to carve him. He even had
balance in the pocket of his duster to
weigh the flesh with, so complete were his
arrangements for making the affair sue
cess. He acknowledged that he had neg.
lected to have a. a.surgeon ready to stop the
blood, because it wasn't so nominated 10
the bond"
Antonio had lost all mis- money, and
having sense enough to know that life with
out ducats was uncomfortable, he calmly
prepared for funeral obsequies. Exposing
proceed with his carving. He was about
TO do so when the learned doctor reminded
him that the bond did no. 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 4" confiscate to the
State" Then, too, if he cut less or
more than pound his life, as well as his
secondhand clothes, was forfeit. This was
poser.
Shylock seeing that Antonio wasn't his.
"meat," offered to take the principal, but
was reminded by the learned doctor that
as he had already refused it in open court
he must take the forfeiture or nothing.
That was not all: Shylock's goods were
divided on the spot one half going towards
paying the national debt, and the other
half towards going to Antonio, against
whose life he had conspired; but Antonio
with great generosity, turned his half over
to the jews daughter, who had married
the negro minstrel, enabling him to retire
from the profession with handsome fare
well benefit and set himself up in the pa
tent 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 emboldened the champions
of " Woman's Rights in demanding that
the learned professions should be thrown
open to the softer sex. She was united
to Bassanio, and lived long and happily,
being often called upon by her neighbors
to decide difficult points of law,
Antonio got appointed Whisky Inspec-
tor. on small salary, and retired with
magnificent fortune in a few weeks.
OF Shy!ock only rare and faint glimpses
have been obtained until he met with such
a mastery reproduction in Edwin Booth.