Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-17

IS pity, 1t is even annoying, but 1t
4 cannot be helped, and it has to be adj
mitted that there are limitations.
N With all our pride of intellect which,
from our standpoint, differentiates us
from coarser clay, these limitations con-
front us at every turn. II is interesting
If discouraging, to find that in every branch
of human thought and action there are no.
thoroughfares, situations, to wit, that admit
of no solution.
Beginning with the law which, viewing
the interests involved, should be an instfu-
ment OF precision, what is to be done with
the following case, the classic case of Bull
Ium versus Boatum, Christian names I'M
known? One man had a legal right to tie
up MS punt at point where the river
moved past certain field. In that field
another man had legal right to pasture
MS Dull with no less legal right of ac-
cess to the water. When the punt was
there the bull stepped into it and drank,
and for time all went we'll But one
morning the rope broke. the punt was
ruined, and the bull was drowned. There
upon the owner of the punt proceeded
against the owner of the bull for the loss
or his punt, and the owner of the bull pro-
ceeded aginst the owner of the punt for
the loss Of his bull There was plenty of
proceeding, put no procession. for try as
they may lawyers, like the farmer drink
ing claret, get no forrader" The genius
mas yet to be born who can settle it.
y
Prosecuted In the law we seek refuge in
this good, round. solid earth of ours: and
here we should be standing on what an
original of erring culture called terra Gotta.
But our globe affords no sanctuary. For
instance, imagine a man starting from
Ireehwlch on Monday at noon, and trav-
cling west, in the same direction as the
apparent direction of the sun and AT the
same rate as the apparent rate of the SUM-
thereby Keeping the sun unswervingly above
ms mead; AT what point will any one have
the hardihood to tell him 1t is Tuesday?
Let his path be lined by men standing
shoulder 10 shoulder, of whom he finds time
ana breath to make inquiry. At whatever
spot ne may be given the startling nforTna-
ton he stops to urge the preposterousness
OF noon having come to him without
dawn, and further to lodge very reason
able complaint that the next door neigh
por OF the spokesman gentleman of TN
impeachable integrity, had just asserted
that 1t was Monday. Those two at least
standing on the same square yard seeing
the sun rise and set at the same moment
ought TO have long since decided so sirnple
a matter. 1t is exasperating
Then. again, imagine an engineer of con-
summate resources to have constructed n
tube of prodigious length, wtie enough to
admit man, but not wide enough to admit
of his reversing himself in it by any pos
sibility. This tube is thrust through all in
cdents and accidents from New Zealand
to the center of my lawn here in England
Ny guests at a garden party were examin-
ing il euriously when, to the surprise of ALL
mans feet were seen laboriously emery
ing. then his legs, then his body, then his
face, the latter portentously red. 1t was
the engineer; and he vsas angry. justiiably
angry, IL seemed to us, when he had ex-
planned his grievance. 1t WAS a monstrous
and an intolerable thing. he protested, that
having begun his journey from the antip-
odes right side up, as sane man does he
through no fault of his, without even the
power to turn had he wished to, should
have arrived at his journeys end. through
a perfectly straight tube. upside down.
ITO say nothing he continued, indignant
ly, ''of the extreme discomfort of LOGO
miles Of blood TO the head Yet all this
must have occurred In the specified condi-
lions. and Il is but cold comfort for harassed
perpIexity to have merely TO say non pos
stlmus to daring experiment. Here be
qaicksands, of a truth.