Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-11-09
TAKING THINGS CO0LLY.
How Celebrated Lawer got the Better
ofan Over 0fioious officer.

The story Of Harrison Gray Otis and
the tidiDg man Ia thus related:
Otis was travelling In the State of Con
necticut. II was before railroad cars had
commenced 10 break mems bones on Sun
days. He had an important cause to ar
que In Boston on Monday, and having
been detained In New York until Saturday
he LEFT that city in his gig, rode on till late
Saturday night, when he put up at New
England village Inn, and resumed his jour
'ney Sunday morning. He had rode but a
few steps from the tavern before a grave
parsonage, known as Il "tiding mar" J"
stepped up, took his horse by tue head,
and c0olly Informed Mr.. Otis that he was
arrested for travelling on Sabbath, and
must proceed with to the jail Mr.. Otis
replied;
"sir, respect the day and the law, but
| shall to break your head as well as the
Sabbath, If you do not let me quietly go
on my way"
But the officer was not TO be bluffed off
in this manner. He said he knew his duty
and shoHld do it. Mr.. Otis then drew out
from his portmanteau a volume which the
official recognized as the statutes of the
State, and remarked, very blandly.
swell, my friend, it won't do any hurt
10 look at the law little"
"Oh, no." said the tiding-man. "You
will find ii all there"
Mr.. OTIS read aloud "If any person
shall be guilty Of Sabbath breaking as
Aforesaid, ii shall be lawful for the tiding-
man to arrest and stop him; and then he
added, "the law is against me, l must
submit"
"Well, then," rejoined the tlding- g-man,
''you must make up your mind to quarter
in the lookup till tomorrow so, If you
please, we will ride back together"
"Oh, no." retOrted Otis, "that will
never do. don't intend that you shall
ride back, or anywhere else with me to-
day. The statute reads, mind you, that
you shall arrest and stop;" that's all.
You can stop me as long as you please,
but that is the extent of your power The
law says nothing at all about you carrying
me off to the lookup, nor of you riding in
my gig on the Sabbath either"
It vas a very stormy day. The poor
tidiug-man was already completely drench-
cd, and the prospect of standing by the
zig all day and night in a muddy road
was by no means either pleasant or COIN
patible with the dignity OF his office.
Mr.. Otis again repeated, with entire
eomposure, " still wish you to consider,
sir that | am your prisOner-for SO reads
the law nothing more. You can go back
If you please, but intend TO stop where
| am"
So saying,the old lowyer drew his cloak
around him, and made preparations for q
quiet snooze till Monday morning, II the
tiding man maintained his watch until
that far-distant day. The poor fellow
looked as blue as indigo, and really felt
quite as uncomfortable as a young gosling
in Il shower. lie gazed n moment or two
on the composed expression Of the shell
tered and complaccnt lawyer, and without
saying a word-tor his feelings were loo
big for utterance-he relnquished his prey,
and went home TO mediate on the mys-
teries Of the law and the palmer precepts
Of the gospel.
Mr., Otis fingered just long enough to
permit the officer to get fairly around the
corner, and then proceeded on his Journey.