Evening journal., 1901-06-29

some Terms of Almost Everyday 1
Use That Proved to BE Too Pro-
found For the Intelligence of the
Learned Bench and Bar.
In case that came before a famous
lord Justice some time ago the counsel
for the prosecution in the evidence had
to mention n blouse"
The Judge asked what blouse was,
and Il was explained that this was part
Of a lady's dress. But the case came to
dead stop for the time. for the judge
did not know which part, and after
some hesitation the barrlster admitted
that he wasn't sure. Several learned
brothers gave their opinion, some opin-
ing a blouse was the upper half Of a
lady's costume. while others Insisted Il
must be the lower half. The entire
court, filed with learned celebrities
whose heads held all the laws OF Brit
ain. from pitch and toss to inanslaugh-
ter, argued It out. but nobody was sure.
The judge thought II was the lower
half, but junior barrister who had
lately been married said he thought
that that half was called n skirt, but
did not feel certain. At length a lady
was called. who set the court right
Another odd dilemma happened not
long ago when In the Hobson horse
taking case the word "fetlock" arose.
A fetlock, as everybody knows, Is the
ankle OF a horse. The court asked
what II was, however. and the prose-
cutting counsel was nonplused. The
witnesses were out OF court save one.
and be knew nothing. The judge
thought a fetlock was n sort OF hind
knee. otherwise "hock," but one learn
cd brother was quite certain II was the
lock OF hair TINT hangs over n horses
forehead. The defendants solicitor
opined II was that part OF the harness
which slips over the tan. the crupper,
and another legal celebrity agreed with
the judge. Finally the court had 60 call
q stable groom 10 clear up the mystery.
In case that was settled some years
since the recorder was brought up
short by phrase used by the counsel
for defense, who spoke OF a'transaction
concerning q pound of ~blacklead."
This Is a common and useful article
II UtAA AlU AulnrtA tiA UtAitH aNh'N W -
plain its nature snid 1t was n black
D snbstauce used FOR boot polishing The
e recorder thought It was n mineral used
a In lead pencils. but another barristes
I asserted II 70 beta tough kind of lead
used for roofing gihouses." Tbc case was
brought TO IA st;mdstill. and one lawyer
i unsurpassed In legal knowledge, Dc
: clarcd that blacszlcad was a,slang tern
for pig iron as produced In the NORTH
& country A fourth expounder of th'
r law vaguely suggested il was the op
e posite Of white lead. and finally a do
g nestle servant put the count right, an'
the assembly at last learned that II wa
used for blacking stoves.
. Another dnomma was produced III
s tie while ago on the western circuit b.
n the introduction of the words "dr.
l. nurse" IN an address 70 the court. Thi
bewildercd the judge. who asked if
2 dry nurse was a nurse who dried ba
/. bies after they had been washed. Tha
/, solution did not occur TO the leame
4 counsel. who, after some hesitation
, said he Thought It meant n nurse VIII
}: was notiaddictcd TO drinkingnnd theT,
II fore most suitable TO look afber infants
y Nobody seemed to know what the teri
really meant. though several NOR
guesscs were made, the last of theI
that dry nurse was one who coul
not amuse children.
IA The court was again{nonplused by
~ statement made that somebody col
= ccrncd In the case supposed TO SUM-
i from melancholia was really "as joll
as sandboy." The 3udge wanted
know what sandboy was In order
form some idea ns 10 t2se exact degr'
IN OF jollity involved. Thu counsel cou
"a not tell him. though oneN suggested
was a boy who sanded ths roads an
~ the other thought it might be !;
,e building sand castles on the seashoE
M The whole court stopped so discu
rs what sandboy was and Why he WI
he jolly, but they could not solv e>the pro
Ia lem.
ne IL is hardly believable thati anybo'
as should not know what IS 'afie"
ns but London magistrate recei My des
~ cd 10 be Informed. and nobcHy cou
ss tell him what a snafie might be.
'' solicitor thought It was the sane thi
u rs the curb" and the clerk had
idea 1t was kind of cold inithe he
which horses caught. causing tlAem
snuhie good deal4-London Answer
A Famous. Temple.