The Worcester spy., 1899-07-03

ters immersed in a. mixture of ket-
ehup, vinegar = horseradiSh snd PIP
per- and he didn't Know that Roman
punch was nothing more than an
other name for lemon ice. He had
some very picturesque remarks in re-
gard to the "orgies" at the dinner, and
showed up the fearful effects of oyster
cocktails with all the yigor of the au-
thor of Ten Nights in Bar. Roen"
He declared that one could not take an
oyster cocktail without making "a
beast of himself in a public place.
The diners We're very much incensed
at these remarks, and the prohibition
editor who gave the dinner ought to
have afforded him an opportunity to
become acquainted with the iniqui-
tous oyster cocktail and the intoyi-
eating Roman punch by sending him
an invitation, He is really not to be
blamed for what he didn't know, and
should be punished only for what Re
failed to find out.
Are the conductors of a dog show
liable for the damage done by one of
the dogs on exhibition in springing
upon passing visitor and tearing a
hole in his coat? This important ques-
tion was recently presented to the ap-
pellate branch of the queens bench di-
vision on an appeal from Clerkenwell
county court, where the proprietors of
dog show had been .muleted i'll the
sum of two guiueas. The appeal was
dismissed on a technicality, but the
appellate justices expressed the opinion
that the judgment in the county court
was erroneous. 1t did not appear that
the defendants or anybody else had
any knowledge or notice of any evil
propensities on the part Of the fox ter
rier which did the mischief. In the alb
sence of such knowledge or notice, Mr..
Justice Lawrence thought that the pro-
prietors of the exhibition could not be
adjudged liable merely because short
er chain would have saved the plant
iff's coat. But the dog has had one
bite" he said to the defendants coun-
sci, land he has lost his character II
you show him again you will have to
be very careful" Justice Day viewed
the case even more favorably for the
defendants, declaring that If there was
any duty to take extra precautions at
such a show it should be imposed upon
the people who go there rather than
upon the managers.
Another attempt was made by the
leading boards of trade of Canada to
have an insolvency act passed by the
Dominion parliament at the last ses-
sion.
They have been agitating to this end
for years, and last session a bill which
met with their approval was introduced
by Mr. Fortin. a member from Mon
treal, but it was among the 1nnocents
slaughtered at the end of the ses-
sion.
AS it is at present, great loss ac-
crues to merchants and injury is done
to the credit Of the country by the con-
Trajectory character and unjust provi-
sions of the insolvency legislation in
force in the various provinces, 1t is
difficult even for Montreal merchant
to keep track of all the variances of
the laws, and for this reason British
and American merchants are caused
confusion and loss, doing the credit of
the country harm. The boards of
trade are anxious to have this cause
of reproach removed.
At a special meeting of the Toronto
Board of Trade, recently, the provi-
sions of the Fortin bill were approved,
with slight notifications, and it was
resolved to seek the approval of the
Montreal and other boards and bring
joint pressure upon the government to
take up Mr.. FortiE's measure.
A gem from the records of a Mis-
souri, court, given in an address by Hon.
William H.. Wallace, is the following
lucid verdict in a lunacy case: 1--WE, the
jury, impanelled, sworn and charged to
inquire into the insanguinity of Heze-
kiah Jones, do occur in the affirma-
tive"
An Irish coroner's jury recently re-
turned a verdict that the deceased
came to his death by trying to light
his pipe with an electric light, which
can't be done successfully"
A New York law firm recently adver-
tised for an office boy and among the
applicants for the position We're six
lawyers, all of whom had had some ex-
perience in practice.
The supreme court of Kentucky has
affirmed a verdict of $500 as
not excessive damages for kissing a I
woman against her will.
bad enough to be good" was the
verdict upon the three Cherry sisters
when they disported themselves Upon
the stage, In some towns the express
sion of public sentiment took the form
of missiles. 1t would seem that per
who can brave the over ripe egg
and the superannuated cabbage, should
not be unduly sensitive to milder
of criticism. But human ma
ture; is queer thing, and the much
bombarded Cherrys sued the Des
Moines Leader because it had copied
from the Odebolt Chronicle an article
in which one sister was described as
IAN old jade" the second as "a frislzy
hlly of 40 years." and the third as "a
capering monstrosity"
Judge Charles A. Bishop, before
whom sister Adde'S case came for trial. |
dismissed the complaint on the ground
that no malice had been shown. He
said that persons who put themselves
before the public must expect criticism,
which may be very severe, as long as
it does not impute criminal or i'm
moral conduct. Under this ruling the
suits brought by the other two sisters
must fall to the ground.
The principle laid down by judge
Bishop should be made known to ali
persons who feel like rushing into libel
suits, says the National Advertiser.
The right of privacy is guaranteed by
law. No newspaper must violate If by
disclosing persons weakness, folly
or even his sin. But man who bids for
public notice has no ground for COM
plaint If his performances are handled
without gloves. That criticism may
hurt him in his business relations is nc
reason why the criticism should not be
uttered. The painter Of a bad picture,
publicly exhibited, must not wall that
he has lost orders because a newspaper
writer has found fault with him. THAT
a painter needs money is not reason
why he should be allowed to EXHIBIT
worthless pictures.
The same considerations apply to
actors, musicians, politicians and writ
ers. AS men and women, they are of
course protected from newspaper ont
rage, but as public performers they
must take their chances. To the honor
of the artistic and literary class be II