Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-01-10
~ COURT DAY IN FLU.
The Judge Play a jews Harp and Respects
a Sian of Influence.

a han OF influence.
The gala dresses are not a little
startling. Here is digniied old gen.
tleman arrayed in a second hand tu-
mic of a marine, in much the same
plight as to buttons as its owner as TO
teeth; near him stands a fine young
village policeman, whose official grav-
ity is not enhanced by the swallow
tailed coat of a niger minstrel; while
the background is taken up by bevyo of
village maidens clad in gorgeous vel
vet pinafores, who are giggling after
the manner of their white sisters until
they are fixed by the stern gray eye of
the chief policeman. which turns
their expression into one OF that pre-.
ternatural solemnity they wear in
church.
The court house, a native building
carpeted with mats. is now packed
with natives, sitting crosslegged, only
asmall place being reserved in front Of
the table for the accused and witness
es. The magistrate takes his seat, and
his scribe, sitting on the floor at his
side. prepares his writing materials 10
record the sentences. The dignity
with which the old gentleman adjusts
his shirt collar and clears his throat is
q little married when he produces from
his bosom what should have been a
pair of pince-nez, seeing that il vas sc.
cured by "A string round his neck, but
it is in fact a Jews harp. With the
soft notes of this instrument the man
of law is wont 10 beguile the tedium OF
a dull case. But, although the spec
tacle of Lord Coleridge grayely per-
forming on the Jews harp in court
would at least excite surprise in Eng.
land, it provokes no smile here.
The first case is called on. Reiterated
calls for Samuela and Timothe produce
two meek faced youths of Is and 10,
who, sitting tailor fashion before the
table, are charged with fowl stealing.
They plead mot guilty" aud tie own
er OF the fowls being worn deposes
that, having been awakened at night
by the voice of a fayorite hen in angry
remolstrance, be ran out QfkS bouse,
and after a hot chase captured the ac-
cused red handed in two senses, for
they were ~plucking his hen while still
alive. Quite unmOvcd by this tragic
tale, Vatureba seems to listen only "
the melancholy notes OF bis jews harp;
but Tue witness Is a chief and a man
of influence withal, and a period OF
awed silence follows his accusation,
broken only by q subdued twanging
from the bench.
Bat Vatureba's eyes are bright and
piercing, aud they have been liked for
some minutes oil the wretched prison.
ers. He has not yet opened bis lips
during the case, and as the Jews harp
is not capable Of much expression, 1t is
with some interest we await the sen
tence. Suddenly the music ceases, the
instrument is withdrawn from the
mouth, the oracle is about to speak.
Alas! he utters but two words, "Vula,
tolu" three months, and there peals
out a Indignantly triumphant strain
from the jews harp. But the prosecu-
tor starts up with a protest. One OF
the accused is his nephew, he ex-
plains, and he only wished a light
sentence TO be imposed. Three months
for one fowl is so severe; besides, if he
has three months, he must go 10 the
central Jail and not work out his SEN
tence in his own district. Again
there is silence, and the Jews harp has
changed from triumph into thought
full melancholy. At length it is with.
drawn and the oracle speaks again.
"Bogi tolu' three days).-CornhiD
Magazine.