The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-04-25
NANCY MARGIN.
She Has Something TO Say OF Justice
blind and Otherwise.

She Has Something to Say OF Justice
blind and Otherwise.
PALArKA, April 23rd, Sc
Mr.. EDITOR:-A lemon street merchant
said in my hearing the other day:
Il suppose that Nancy Margurum, or
who ever she is. is perfectly satisfied
with Judge King"
"Why So" was the inquiry from by
stander.
''he find man s for smoking a.cigar
in his presence, SO says The NEWS"
OF course he did not dream that one Of
the ladies buying hair pins OF this clerk
was the Nancy" he was talking about.
He has my thanks, however, for |
would never have known any thing about
the matter talked Of had in not been for
his pleasant joke. II stimulated me to
inqnire about the matter and as have
"a friend at court became acquainted
with much information about judges, ju.
ries, lawyers, clients and the habitues Of
county courts which have stored away
upon the tablets Of my memory to be
used along Us occasion may require.
Many years ago my father had the
honor to occupy a seat in the legislature
of my native state. DO remember on
one occasion when mother visited the
capitol and then being the pet Of the
family had to accompany her. Way up
on the dame Of the state capitol was an
image which excited my childish curl
osity. 1t was pure white and stood out
81 boldly from the blue sky thought il
represented an angel, il not really one.
''Look. my father dear. at that beauti.
full angel way up in the sky so high"
ayes. my dear" he replied. "She is
ON third reading. y
lie was so absorbed in matters Of state
that he did not hear me Alright.
PA, are all angels blind.folded:' ]
vpntured to ask.
II don't know, my child, all the au-
thorities l have examined are silent on
that point"
"But why do they carry scales in one
hand and sword in the other" per.
sisted.
''ln the name Of common sense he
exclaimed, stopping suddenly. what is
the child talking about"
"That angel" said I, pointing up to
the beautiful image.
THAT is not an angel, said he, that's
justice. yet justice should be an angel"
''What is justice, pa" eagerly in.
quired.
Justice. said he slowly and SO i'm.
pressively that the sounds have never
died, Justice Is justice--it represents
just, truth, right, honor, equality, un.
seliishness. This il a statue to represent
the policy Of the government towards all
the people Of the state"
Your fair and stern readers, Mr.. Edi-
tor. will not wonder why inquire Of
those around me show goes Oh the peo-
pies cause ut courtl 2" Why did the
Judge fine the man for smoking! Was
1t reformaatory measure or to pay for
injured dignity? Was the smoking
crime against the people Of the state or
an insult to the benchf II must have
been the latter for man still smokes on
the highways and by.ways, in store and
hotel the same as before the marvellous
act of justice. What does this signify :?
4 man may pollute the air above with
his whisky ladened breath or foul the
floors beneath with pools Of expectorated
tobacco juice and the judge will sit on
the bencl, with dignity unruffied. The
dignity that doth hedge a judge is irrita.
ted by nothing but tobacco smoke and as
the smoke rolled up as prima facie ev.
idence a snap judgment was taken by the
Judge and an instantaneous execution
levied. Now il Mt the same moment the
Judge had enjoyed recess, laid aside
his robes, rose from his bench. sailed
forth to the streets below and gazed up
at the windows that admits light to his
that would have been worthy OF his ju.
dicial acumen The sills Of the windows
furnished seats for some Of the anxious
spectators: they sat with their backs out
of the windows, some with coat tails
spread apart others without tails of any
kind. Was it not an aspect that would
prove that dignity may not always sur
rounded court il it doth hedge Kings
But justice is blind-l never knew
how blind until now-justice is 30 blind
that it scatters and the unjust mingle
with the just. In tho same term If
court in which the American citizen was
fined for contempt by smoking and in
nocent cigar william who had fouled his
home and brought scandal on the county
by crimes 80 numerous that one has not
fingers enough TO count them, the char.
acter of them 80 dark and heinOus that
the pen of a modest woman shrinks to
write goes scott free. The man who for q
brief moment polluted tho air with to.
bacco smoke was an easy criminal to
punish, but he who robbed virtue of her
brightest honor and only hope escapes
the vengeance Of justice. Where is the
arm to protect the fireside! Where is
the power to shield virture! II limo.
cent children are to be violated. II
deadly assaults are to be made, ifhomes
are to be desolated, il communities are
to be degraded, let the world wag no Ion.
ger for ere another generation comes
upon the stage Of action the land will
be covered with the worst Of corrnptiOns
and dishonor.
so, do no. rejoice that the man
was fined for smoking when l know
that criminals whose deeds alright vr.
tue are breathing the pure air Of heaven
unpublished and unrestrained. As easy
Mr.. Editor, canst thou make me believe
that angels are made from devils, gold
from brass that the air Of heaven i.
made from sulphurious blast Of hades a.
10 make me believe that justice and
equity are executed by such judicial
proceedings.
This may be considered contempt, but
am free American woman, with the