The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29

capable Of steady, day after day use In all sorts
of weather conditions. But II 10 true. neverthe-
less. that the emancipation test Of Saturday last
succeeded in proving that this new institution
has been born, that 1t gives promise Of wonder
full things in the near future, and that In the
mean time the world will stick tn its ordinary
means Of locomotion for some years to come.
The unfortunate part of The situation 10 that
the public has been led to expect too much, and
this from motives which must be regarded with
grave suspicion. The artificial motor boom has
been carefully romot by q combination OF
shrewd gentlemen, who will probably profit
very largely by II. Everything possible has
been done to create and encourage an appetite
for Investment in the new field of enterprise
which has been opened. In other words, II Is q
company promoters boom. and n very clever
one 1t ir, too. Almost the entire English press
has beon induced to Join in spreading the craze,
and already the fruits OF It are being reaped.
Every day this week fresh prospectuses have
appeared, asking the public to subscribe half
a million dollars capital In an electric
cab company or one or another form or
branch OF the new industry. Not q single
daily newspaper that I have seen uttors q word
of warning against these schemes, although
some of their estimates OF work and profits arc
silly and absurd. Two or throe of the moro
conservative weekly publications have not hes
W Duiht oub ohi "a - ihhoo hi'uau-
lent claims made on behalf Of these mushroom
ventures. but their warnings will probably 60
unheeded.
Tho result will be n great collapse of the mo-
tor craze In a few months. and then tho public
will take as strong n prejudice against the idea
as It now holds In its favor. No doubt the sue
cessful motor will come in good time. but It may
be taken for granted that, In this country at
any rate. the outside public will not make any
money out of II.
The oldest and perhaps tho funniest lawsuit
Of recent record occupied the attention OF u
Scotch court at Oban on Wednesday last. John
Turner, q poultry raiser. claimed damages in
$50 from u local distillcry company because 1t
had been the cause of his hens and chickens
becoming habitual drunkards. A little brook
flowed from the distillery through the plain
tifr's farm. and on six days IN the week. he as
serted. the water was 80 polluted with alcoholic
refuse that the poultry which drank from 1t
became regularly intoxicated. Turner told the
story OF the moral and physical downfall Of his
ducks and hens in lugubriuus detail. 1t was n
new hen which he had bought in Lsggan that
had led the whole flock astray. The defend
ants lawyer interrupted at this point to suggest
that the poultry were afflicted with "gapes,"
which had been introduced by the LaCEan hen.
Yes" responded the plaintiff, "whiskey
Rapes."
He went on to say that on Sundays, when the
distillery was not in operation, the condition Of
his flock was pitiable. but Mondays were their
worst days, for then they drank excessively and
fell into the water frequently. ana he had to
employ a boy TO look after them. They would
take no food until they had first paid n visit to
the brook. In fact. their conduct was thorough
~ reprehensible. and the ducks were no better
than the hens. When they came back from the
brook they spent the day In sleeping and fight
ing alternately. Turner admitted that he had
some sober hens, but the drunken ones broke
their eggs. and, all in all. the demon alcohol had
quito destroyed the profits OF hts business.
At the conclusion Of his testimony tho plain
tnf triumphantly produced the wicked Laggan
hon in court Tho dissolute creature was
brought In In q large wicker cage and placed
upon the bench in front of Sheriff Mactavish,
who presided. This colloauy then took place.
The plaintiffs lawyer asked:
WAS this hen at the distlllery brook this
morning ?"
Amy one could see that" responded Turney.
lis IL sober ?"
ut is not" The behavior of the bird seemed
to Justify this answer. 1t sat on the bottom OF
the cage. stretched It's neck up through the
bars. and crooned to itself In what the plaintiff
termed "a N audlin style"
How are the other hens to-day 2"
"Worse than this one"
Was this the only ono you could bring to
court2"
Yes"
WHY"
Tho rest were too drunk"
"So that on tho whole the Laggan hen Is not
the worst?"
THAT is So"
How do You account for THAR"
"She can stand it better"
Tla oopra.l f~r h. a fapen uiahad . - ra.1 ,n
article by Andrew Lang referring TO a some
what similar case. The other side objected. as
Mr.. Lang was not present. The counsel replied
that Mr.. Lang had been summoned. but had
failed to appear. The Court ruled out the evil
deuce. When both sides had finished. Sheriff
Mactavish confessed himself puzzled. or rather
he said that the case being q peculiar one he
would reserve his decision.
After adjournment Of tho conrt somebody
offered the wicked Lagean hen half a glass of
whiskey. which 1t began TO imbibe greedily.
Soon it began cackling at n great rate. to tho
intense amusement Of the bystanders.
Such is In substancet the version Of this extraor-
binary case printed by the local newspapers.
Scotch newspapers were never known to tell .
lie. at least not so ingenious q lie as this. At
all events, II the story IL not true. It is quite
good enough to be true.
Tho public has been q good deal annoyed of
late by the large number OF counterfeit ninor
coins in circulation. The half crown is tho
favorite piece for the crime. 1t is really sur
pris!ng that the counterfeiter should run the
risk OF detection by making his goods of baser
metal, when by using standard silver he could
still make fifty per cent. profit.
Some people are very credulous about the
methods OF English currency manufacture.
Not long ago a report vas started to the effect
that a pot of molten gold had been overturned
by mistake into a large vessel containing copper
from which pennies were being made at the
royal mint. The story, OF course, was absurd.
because gold. silver. and copper are coined In
separate departments. Nevertheless. quite a
large number OF persons bought up all the new
pennies they could find, with tho idea that they
were worth at least a shilling apiece on account
OF the gold In them.
Two London ~inquests held within = week have
resulted in verd!cts Of death caused by light
lacInu. IL Ia evident. therefore that the re-