Evening star., 1901-11-09

I have heard she went on, "of persons
being arrested and kept for life by detain-
ers of few shillings. Is that hard hearted
ness? Not so, sir. 1t is an example to the
rest of the world. Believe me. sir though
1t seems hard to you, there are thousands
VINO would never pay their debts, small or
large, were it not for the example of Such
as you-Such YOU
The dressmaker spoke with some warmth
because to her, as a woman in trade, the
debtors prison is like Magma Charta for
the protection of herself and such as her.
self.
Sir said the lady in the ask, eff your
private friends"
Madam, among all the people of this
country and my own there is not a soul
who knows me, or is sorry for me, or
would lift up his finger to save me. Not
one They would not even know of my
misfortunes. Why should 1 let them
know? They would not help me; they
would only whisper each other for the
credit of the family to keep it dark"
mo friends-and no hope"' the lady
murmured, "Oh, poor man! Poor man.
Business first. Compassion afterward,"
said Mrs. Brymer. Shall 1 send for the
parson?
wait a moment Mrs. Brymer I would
first have little further discourse with
this gentleman"
'As you please, madam. Time, however,
presses. The parson is generally in his
cups by or 3. But, as you please. Even
ried after it, just well But il would
be better to dispatch the business"
I'm a few minutes. Mrs. Brymer viii
you oblige me by taking view of the
court outside while l converse with this
unfortunate gentleman-with Mr.. Mac
namara?'
Madam, I cntreat you. Business before
pleasure. An agreement before compas-
sion. A soft heart has ruined many hon
est tradesmen. Oh. it will lead to a tnrow-
ing away of money. Five shillings--five
shillings a week; on the poor side with
the doles and no rent-Oh, it should be
ample. Consider, madam, you are not a
Lady Bountiful."
Il will consider For the moment, Mrs.
Brymer please leave me-
Mrs. Brymer obcyed, shaking her head
Now that We are alone, sir, pray take
chair. VIII you have another pint of
wine? No? Forgive me ii | am inhos-
pitable. Tell me, sir, if you will-beleve
met is not idle curiosity-tell me who are
you and how you came to fall so lowo
Your appearance-your manner-your
! speech all proclaim a gentleman and a
scholar
Il am a lawyer, madam, as these rags
| may show you. ! was of the Irish bar;
1 have been called to the English bar by
| the benches of the Inner Temple"
| "A lawyer. There are not surely MANY
| lawyers here"
| Madam L believe that I am the onlv
| one. The lawyers avoid the penalties Of
| debt; they are mostly connected with
| wealthy IdIHlileS, or with attorneys the
| way of business they are not, as a rule,
| very poor at the outset; their creditors
| know whom they trust. AS for me- l
| came over to make my fortune
| You said that you had friends in
| Ireland?'
| Il have cousins in plenty. We are "a
poor family Of gentlefolk My father was
| in holy orders. He died and l spent my
| slender patrimony at Trinity College and
in studying for the bar in Dublin. Then 1
came over, trusting to the possession of
! certain gifts or qualities which l thought
! would advance me. / had but little when
| l arrived in London. But I had no fear,
thought 1 should get on quickly. and
bought certain things with which to make
better appearance, anticipating fortune"
He stopped and sighed.
| 1T was a mistake that you made"
Fortune delayed. She would. not be
hurried. The beginning to which l had
| looked forward was slow in arriving. Then
my creditor-there was but one-began to
to give him. l could not, in a word, pay
his bill-it only 25 guineas. Madam,
am willing to acknowledge the truth OF
| what that lady, your friend, advanced. ii
| is true that there are many people who
would not pay their just debts but for the
terror of the prison. My example and the
example of such as myself are to them Il
| warning. 1t is the only justification oi
the debtors prison. If at any time oui
legislators could their way to enforce
the payment of debts without Imprisonment
| for life this unjust punishment WOulC
cease. AS it is, madam, l am imprisoned
for life for debt of 25 guineas. which
| am forbidden to pay by the fact Of my
imprisonment. The thing is monstrous; bu
1t is the law.
''Twenty-five guineas? Do you mean tha
gentleman like yourself can be imprisoned
for Ife--for the whole of his life-fer
) paltry debt Of 2o guineas?"
: THE law makes no distinction betwee,
, gentlemen and the common sort 1t i'm
prisons everybody for life; it has but on
! sentence. Whether the debt is a shilIin,
. or 10000 one must pay or be imprisone,
! | for life."
, .'But-surely-25 guineas!'
, | .,It is not much. The law again. in orde
to keep the prisoner from the shame O
e confessing the small amount for which h
| is locked up, encourages the attorneys t.
, practice the rule of multiplication NJ
e | debt is now about f75. l believe. This
/. you observe. in the eyes of the turnkey
t and prisoners themselves is much NOR
. creditable.
n "But-pardon me. / am inquisitive-hav
you really no friends who would pay s
: much for you? 1t IS not much. You coul
4 afterward repay it."
: "Madam-I have no friends. Cousins
have, Dut cousins are not fond of relieving
r the necessities of their relations. Besides
i. there are religious difficulties Some o
/. them are Catholics, and my father WAS ,