Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-01-19

let you know Just -wncre YOU stauu.
You are doubtless aware that the~c
have been q number OF acts passed in
relation to tailoring which think will
tend TO make our negotiations exceed
ingly simple. For instance, there Was
an act passed In the reign Of William
and Mary which made It illegal for a
tailor TO sew cloth buttons on suit
The penalty Is forty shillings for every
half dozen buttons he uses, besides the
forfeiture of the goods. But you were,
of course, cognizant Of this before you
threatened the law on lawyer"
81 never heard Of such an outrageous
act 1t is certainly not the law now"
"Ah, there you are wrong. aud that
shows the advantage of having the
best legal assistance. II would III be.
come us, Mr.. llemms, TO characterize
the wisdom Of our ancestors as out
rageous There are many things per-
tanning to the law that may not COM
mend themselves TO the lay mind"
DO you mean to say that act has
never been repealcd2"
80 far from being repealed. II has
bcon affirmed and added TO in other
rcigns In the fourth year of George |.
the law was male to include all kinds
of buttons covered by any material
whatever and the forty shilliugs was
retained as tho penalty. In George
the Fourths time there was button
act passed, forty shillings remaining
the favoritc penalty. have often
wondered why forty shillings was
always popular penalty imposed ON
Englishmcn for doing that which they
should not do. Doubtless you have
yourself pondcrcd on the same iuscrut-
able mystery, Why not thirty shillings,
or fifty shillings, or G5? Still 30 1t Is,
and we must accept it,"
why was such an unjust law
passed2'
"Do not, beg Of you, term II unjust.
Respect the law. should bc sorry to
think that my custom went to n man
who was not Ms law.abiding and us
law-rcspccting as myself Why was II
passed2 II was passed to protect the
button makers Of Birmingham"
And do you mean TO say cannot
collect my just debt because | have
sewcd cloth buttons on some of your
suitsp"
You will collect your debt tho mo-
ment | get money TO pay you, but you
cannot collect It in any English court
That was tried quite recently at Mary.
lcbone county court, when II Mr. King
was sued by II tailor named Shirley.
The amount claimed was nine pounds
sterling. Mr.. Shirley was n most es-
timablc man, no doubt, and probably
an excellent tailor, but people should
have the law on their side. The law
takes no account of motive. The tailor
was not only nonSuitcd, but was also
fined the requisite number Of forty
shilling pieces, II there are any forty
shilling pieces I confess | am more
familiar with law than with the coin.
age of this country. Mr., King was
suited not only by the law, but the tailor
as we'll"
as this why you asIscd me to come
here?"
YES. You gave me Of your clothing,
give you of the law. Each tho urti
Gle he deals In. Now n you sign re-
ceipt for the clothes, | will charge YOU
nothing for the law, nor will say any
thing of the just penalties you have in
Cured"
Before doing So" remarked tn,
tailor, rising. IL will consult another
lawyer"
"A most excellent resolution In or
binary cases. In multitude OF queens
counsel there is wisdom, or at least
much law But this case must be set.
tied now. In your letter you expressed
n wish for an early settlement. II IL
my own desire. must have my receip,
now or will invoke the law against
You as a breaker Of It,"
The receipt was given. or course, n
tailor is no match for lawyer II Is
always better 10 turn one Of the legal
gentlemen on another. That Is what
tho tailor did. lie consul ted another
lawyer This gentleman assured the
tailor that the acts complained Of still
stand on the statute books. lie said.
however, that Blk in demanding and
obtaining the receipt had compounded a
felony. For this he could be brought
To book But the tailor did not want
W pun DIX III ghll' no Whntcu MS
money. Why not threaten Blk? Then
he could be settled with and the money
obtained. This, II seemed, would be
also compromising Billts felony, and
then another lawyer could jump on tho
second lawyer. II the second lawyer
settled, then the third lawyer would
have compounded n felony and so the
thing would go on until all the legal
talent OF London would be enveloped
in this network Of compromising fell
onics.
This is how the matter stands at the
moment Of writing. How IL will end
no one knows. II is a complicated
question. shall keep my eye on the
case aud report progress from time to
time. Meanwhile those who read may
take my word for IL that the law OF
England to-day In regard 10 buttons
remains as stated In the foregoing pa
thetic narrative. Luke Sharp, In De-
troit Free Press.
THE cheek OF some people Is sim
ply amazing" said the young mother.