The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-08-21
Naked Justice ON a Gate Post.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH A
LOUISIANA AJURISTA ASKED FOR
A FIG LEAF.
From the N. O. Picayune,l

HAoLi CHS ~ " TIcdJ uucI
Our old friend, Judge Tom Farrar 0.
La Ike Providence, who is known through
out the State as a lawyer and jurist OF
eminent abilities, and q gentleman OF
most lOvable character, tells, at his owl
expense, and with the keenest gustO, 6
story which we think too good to lose
i appears that some years ago, while
riding through one of the prettiest dis
trlcts OF North Louisiana, he came, about
sundOwn, to creek which was so deer
as to necessitate q swimming feat. The
Judge being man of vigorous and in
vincible determination, no sooner re-
allied this emergency than he prompt
| ly dlsmOunted, undressed himself with
great dispatch, and, attired only in his
| high plug hat and a pair of spectacles,
| bestrOde his gallant cob and urged him
| to the venture.
After desperate struggle the other
side was gained, and the Judge again
dismounting, this time with profound
sigh of relief, was about to resume his
integuments, when the horse, prompted
by some diabOliCal spirit started from
his side and trotted slowly down the
road.
OfcOurse the Judge had no recourse
but to trOt after him, and thereupOn
there ensued one of the most remarkable
and picturesque chases ever known in
history or tradition. The horse appear
ed to have no motive save that of keep
ing certain distance ahead of the Judge,
and of finding some comfortable barn
yard, where he might refresh himself
after such gigantic efforts. The Judge,
whatever may have been his ambitions,
confined himself to the effort of keeping
the truant beast in sight.
If nncf houo hoon ohoaVf,,1
vigOrating experience to see the Judge
trOtting briskly along that smooth and
sandy road, his venerable plug hat pull
ed over his eyes, and his spectacles bob
bing up and down upon his nose. The
chase was long, and the moisture of great
exertiOn would gather on his brow, and
then, when he reached around for his
handkerchief, alas it was not there. All
of which had the effect of impressing
the Judge with his very peculiar and un-
fortunate situation, and imparting re-
newed play and lightness to his legs.
So the two bow1ed pleasantly along,
preserving a steady relative distance,
until just as the setting sun was redden-
ing the distant hills and touching the
Judges manly form with gold, the horse
whisked suddenly into gate and bolt
ed with eager haste toward stable dimly
visible in the distance.
The farm house sat in grove of trees,
whose shadows made a great darkness
round it, and from this grove, as the
Judge was scampering furiously after
his horse and wardrobe, there issued
sundry yellow dogs, surly of mien and
shaggy Of appearance. The Judge felt
that it would be utterly impossible under
these circumstances to assume that ma
jesty of aspect and fearlessness of gaze
which is currently. believed to be the
correct thing with dogs, and SO, seeing
a friendly gate post near at hand, he gave
one wild bound and reached its summit
Just as the leanest and fiercest of the
dogs snapped viciOusly at his legs.
When the uproar had subsided, and
the Judge, realizing the absurdity of the
situation, had regained his customary
frame of mind, female voice was heard
calling from the house:
"Who there 2"
A fellow creature in distress, mad
ana"
Where are you?"
"On the gate post" said the Judge, |
beginning to enjoy the joke.
"What can do for you 2"
1t was too much. The Judges old |
humor and quizzical love of merriment |
came over him:
"Call off these dogs and bring me all |
the tig leaves on the place."