davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1912-06-30

one in Downing street possesses Juris-
diction over +5OOO0.OO0 people. Here 1t
Is, in fact. that Britannia, represented
by selected members Of the privy council.
balances the scales of justice between
black and white Hindu, Mohammedan
and Buddhist. from the Channel ISLANDS
TO Hongkong, and from Cape Town to
Hudson's bay. The right of British sub
jects to appeal to 1.-The king in council.
as the phrase goes, against the decisions
of the highest courts in their own iands,
is like the appeal to Caesar of the
ancient Roman provinces.
The privy council as a whole, which is
supposed to advise his majesty. no longer
really does so. of course, being more or
less a decorative body whose one-time
functions as councillors were taken over
without any authority whatsoever-by
the cabinet. but the judicial committee
OF the privy council. which was formed
in 1888, and is composed of the greatest
jurists in the kingdom, has full power
to dispense justice in the name OF his
majesty as the last resort OF the litfgant
seventeen members Of the privy council
from whom the judicial committee Is
drawn. but a quorum Is as low as four,
and the ones who sit most regularly are
those already named, with the occasional
addition in cases OF the highest impor-
tance, OF the lord chancellor. A former
member OF the court Is Lord Mersey,
now In charge of the British inquiry into
the loss of the Titanic.
The jurisdiction Of this impressive but
potent tribunal covers something like
IL 600 900 square miles. AS likely as not
the visitors to the dingy, book-lined room
in Downing street. where there In nothing
but the royal arms on the wall to sug-
gest that it is the empires great court
OF appeals will find q Canadian barrister,
assisted by an Australian junior. and in
structed by a London solicitor, arguing
Shanghai appeal case. When the writer
visited the court the other day during the
progress Of the idol case most Of the
spectators were Hindus. but as often as
not you will find one or two Cinnamon
there, with perhaps a Sierra Leone negro,
besides a sprinkling Of Englishmen,
Scotchmen, Irishmen and Welshmen, all
lieges OF the sovereign whom the bored
old gentlemen at the table-who occa-
sionally go to sleep-represent.
The court cannot complain, at all
Evening star., 1912-06-30

great white king If he told you that you
were wrong?"
The great white king would not listen. !"
replied the chief.
He would have to listen. Just you tell
your lawyer to appeal to the privy ooun-
Gil. Perhaps they will decide for u.s."
Accordingly the chief appealed. but he
did not win the case. When the judg-
ment was conveyed to him. however. he
took fifty of his headmen, and went over
to the quarters of his rival and said: 60
and take the throne. It is yours. I had
intended to make war on you and slay all
your people. But the great white king
has spoken and said was wrong and you
are right. So 1 tell you. the throne Is
yours!"
The last case in which gods came before
the judicial committee as litigants was
in November. 1910, when four native del
ties. who were described prosaically
in the register as Sri Sri Ishwar Chand
Jiu "and Others" appealed to their lord
ships, through their earthly representa-
Evening star., 1912-06-30

Gus tiny compartments. and each knife,
fork, spoon. medicine bottle, cup, glass
and flask is displayed intact. Even the
pewter dishes he ate from and had his
chest and, most suggestive of the whole
homely outfit. Is his little bread toaster
perched on one end of the chest as If
awaiting a long lifeless hand to lift 1T
into place.
Suggestive, somehow, of melancholy
evenings is the large brass candlestick
and reflector used by Gen. Washington in
his tent and wherever 4.e happened to be
quartered during the revolution. A per-
pendicular brass rod, with heavy round
base, supports two branches and back
of them rises the polished reflector. By
the light from tapers In this holder the
future first President pored over weari-
some plans for outwitting powerful foe.
Also, Its rays fell athwart the paper on
which he wrote his farewell address to
the army. Afterward 1t was cherished
object at Mount Vernon, and is in col
lection including the generals armchair
and his pistols and tent pipe holder and
such relics. His leather case Is well pre-
served and proves one of the most inter-
esting bits of the collection to visitors.
Aside from anything appertaining to
Washington. perhaps, the most notable
revolutionary relic Is the famous John
Paul Jones flag. This has long been a
source Of controversy among students OF
history, some of whom claim 1t Is the
same tattered emblem OF liberty which
foated from the Flagstaff Of the famous
Bon Homme Richard. while others in
sist the material of which it is made was
at later period.
The National Museum authorities have
made no attempt to prove or contradict
its genuineness. But placed conspicuous
ly beside the much worn homemade flag,
whose stars are sewed on with big,
coarse stitches, Is an autograph letter
stating that the flag is what 1t Is claim
ed to be.
This yellow and aged. yet easily de-
ciphered, letter was written by the chair
man Of the marine committee Of the Con-
Evening star., 1912-06-30

who have thought themselves familiar
with vocations Of famous men then
living read with surprise q label
placed beside a heavy silver soup tu-
reen, which states that the latter was
made by Paul Revere He is usually
recalled as dashing madly along the
road to Concord in that neverto-be-
forgotten ride. and few realize that he
must have had other occupation than
such equestrian exercise-patriotic
though 1t was.
In more peaceful times he was a sill
versmith and a very skillful one. as
the we'll nodded proportions and clever
chasing on the tureen evidences. He
was selected by a committee of citizens
of Concord to make 1t as testimonial
to an officer of revolutionary fame. and
1t stands today as a double tribute to
its designer and the one for whom 1t
was designed.
Mute memorials to a long line OF
careful housewives, as we'll as to the
bravery Of the man on whom they
were bestowed. are the four silver
pieces presented to the museum by the
Chase family. There is q large. squat,
tall-handled teapot, q cream pitcher OF
the square-cornered colonial type now
so eagerly sought, and two salt cellars
Evening star., 1912-06-30

Miniature pixies fashioned from a
sunken war vessel are on view. and nu-
merous pistols OF every antique sort are
to be seen. A pair Of them particularly
small in size. but none the less effective
for that reason. were carried throughout
the war by some gallant fighter now but
a memory.
A full-rigged model Of the United States
Constitution always interests juveniles
who inspect these relics. and creates a
vivid realization Of what the nation has
accomplished in less than a century and
half-for II is a far cry from this pride Of
the revolution to our latest battleship.
Midway the rotunda Of curios there Is
a long, dull brass cannon carved with
royal crown and a French coat Of arms.
Lafayette brought this field piece to
America with him, and 1t was used by
the French army. At one stage OF the
conflict it was captured by the English.
but the valiant French custodians won 1t
back again. and 1t now stands as a splen-
didly preserved testimonial OF their broth
erly feeling for struggling nation.
A very rare. enlarged portrait Of George
Washington, loaned to the museum. shows
Evening star., 1912-06-30

have been crushed. But the young law
yer appealed to the privy council. and
there. In the dingy little court, far from
all local prejudices and unmoved by
highly paid eloquence, the appeal was
granted, the poor woman got her $4,000
and all costs and the lords of appeal
paid SO high compliment to her coun-
sci that he went home with his reputa-
tion made.
Just now the yearly total OF appeals
from the Dominion of Canada is about
to come before the judicial committee. in.
cluding the highly important one which
will settle the question of the jurisdic-
ton of Canada's supreme court over the
various provinces of the Dominion. An
other important pending action is that
between the Reid Newfoundland Com
pany and the Anglo-American Telegraph
Company, over the question of the use
of a special wire. 1t is never known
whether the findings OF the judicial COM
mittee are unanimous or not. their de-
cision being announced by one Of their
lordships, who adds that they will "hum-
bly, advise his majesty accordingly"
Copyright. 1872 by Curtis Brown.)
Evening star., 1912-06-30

tendant to bring a symbol Of the yellow
god within the precincts. To this the rep
resentatives Of the red god objected
violently, and a devotee was dispatched,
hot foot, for a rival idol There were
continual sensations" in the corridors
when. from time to time, reports of what
this or that deity had hidden his repre-
sentative to say reached the throng, and
folk in Whitehall wondered what all the
excitement was about when fifty or more
dusky, turbaned figures emerged and the
news was passed around that the red god
had won the day.
Occasionally there is q lot of pathos
about a case that comes before the judi
cial committee Of the prtvy council.
There was one. not SO long ago. which
may be recalled, even II no names or
localities are mentioned. A colonist-a
young married man-had been killed on
a railway in pathetic circumstances. His
widow asked for damages, which the
company refused, and she appealed to
Evening star., 1912-06-30
A Modern Instance.

MURRAY WHEELER. vice consul for
lV1 Russia at Mobile. said at a bouil-
labaisse luncheon, apropos of Independ-
ence day:
1T is a sad but inspiring thing to think
Of that bellringer who. ringing out the
tidings of American freedom, died for
JOY
But young English remittance man"
sneered at this remark and said:
Have You ever known any one to DO
actually killed by joy?"
Mr.. Wheeler smiled at the Briton and
retorted:
heiress once who was found lying dead
across the coffin Of her husband. old Lord
I.acIauds"
Evening star., 1912-06-30

setts and president of the Continental
Congress at the time Of the signing Of the
Declaration of Independence.
The sword of LIE Marquis de Ia Rocham-
beau. friend Of Lafayette and OF George
Washington. is also in this revolutionary
collection. 1t was presented to Gen. Peter
Gansevoort by the Governor of New York
in 1913. The general was then quite an
old man in retirement. who managed,
however. to take some part in the war
plans of 1872.
His full dress uniform worn during that
political imbroglio with England hangs in
the museum with some other most inter-
esting relics Of his eventful military
career. He fought with great credit
through the war Of the revolution. and
his sword worn then is placed reverently
beside the uniform.
A delicate miniature on ivory by the
celebrated Gilbert Stewart shows
Gen. Gansevoort in full dress continen-
tai uniform of his rank and wearing
q decoration Of the Order Of the Gin
cinnati. He was especially noted for
his strategic defense Of Fort Stanwfs,
New York, in 1777.
\
Many students of the revolution
Evening star., 1912-06-30


nese action over the loss of a cargo Of
opium stored in hulk on the Wangpoo
river. to a Bengalese lady's claim against
her august lord for arrears Of pin
money and to dispute over the owner
ship of mosque in Ceylon, these quaint
actions being mixed up with ones in more
civilized parts of the empire over rights
to put up telegraph poles. claims under
mortgage deeds and discussions as to the
ownershi of Tied" public houses.
4 y
Probably no judges in the world have to
be up in as many kinds Of legal lore
as these. Quite often, obscure points in
old Roman-Dutch law, which Is in force
in South Africa and other parts of the
British colonies. have to be dealt with.
likewise questions Of French law under
the Code Napoleon, which still prevails
in Mauritius and some other parts Of the
empire. The Indian cases, which number
about fifty a year, raise endless points of
Hindu and Mohammedan law, and ap-
peals from Cyprus involve a pretty init
mate acquaintance with the laws of the
Ottoman empire. In a recent case over
tinian, the code of Rohan and jurists like
Tore, Peregrinus and Mantica We're
quoted freely. and there are cases. too.
from the admiralty courts, from the eccle-
siastical courts, from consular courts out
side the empire and from districts where
the foreign jurisdiction act applies. In one
action which defined the rights of two
rival Indian gods their lordships had to
listen to several reams Of ancient Hindu
poetry and under such circumstances no
one can blame them for occasionally
snatching forty winks.
The ideas Of this court which some OF
the natives have who appeal to 1t are
queer enough. Some Of them believe that
the great white king in person. doubtless
seated on a golden throne and surround
ed by glittering warriors. decides on the
merits Of their disputes; to others the
empires greatest court of appeal Is itself
god. which holds dominion over the
king. The latter was the fond belief of
parcel of Mohammedans, resident in far
corner of India. who went to law with
tribe Of Hindus after a lot of bad feeling
on both sides. After the local courts had
sat on the matter. the case was carried
to the supreme court Of Calcutta. which
declared for the Hindus. Messengers dew
Evening star., 1912-06-30
.OUR Bored Englishnen,

EOUR Bored Englishmen,
1 Sitting in a Dusty Room
in London, Form the Most
Powerful Tribunal in Exist
ence-Made Up of Members
of the Judicial Committee of
Britain's Privy Council, It
Has Jurisdiction Over Eleven
Million Miles of Territory
Is the Empires Great Court
of Appeal, and, as Such,
Adjudicates Between High
and Mighty Native Poten-
tates, and, Occasionally, Be
tween Gods-Some Natives
Who Appeal to the Court
Think 1t Is the "Great White
King" in Person Who Passes
Judgment on Their Cases
Others Conceive "Judish-al-
Komiti" to Be a Potent
Deity With Authority Over
the Sovereign, and, in This
Belief, Accept the Four Old
Gentlemen's Decisions With
out a Murmur.
Evening star., 1912-06-30
Incorrigible.

Cov FOSS, at a luncheon in Boston.
" said of certain incorrigible crook:
He 10 as incorrigible In drinking as in
stealing. Two criminal lawyers were
once discussing him.
Hes been persuaded to take the gold
cure, said the hrst.
" Has 1t cured himr asked the other.
".Hs fears Sd was the reply"
Evening star., 1912-06-30
coaM PAUL JONES HAe. Cur1AssUsED On HIS SHIP 81

tinental Congress to Lieut.. James Bay
ard Stafford in 1884.
He was an officer in the United States
Navy during the revolution, and display
ed great courage and valor In helping
to rescue the crew from Paul Jones ship.
The letter states that he is also to have
cutlass and musket as mementoes of
the naval battle, and these are shown
with the flag
AS well kept and glitter1ng as though
they had never done work any more
deadly than reposing in a burglar-alarm-
protected case are the various service
swords worn by officers and men of the
revolution Full dress swords. with hand
some costly scabbards, presented later by
states and organizations in recognition of
the bravery Of the recipients, are arranged
in racks so as to display their beauties of
workmanship and tempertng. Illustr1ous
among them is the service sword carried
by Lieut.. Benjamin Mooers during two
wars.
After fighting his way through the revo-
lutionary war with the long. slender
bladed sword now so seemingly peaceful,
he again used 1t in the war Of 1872. 1t
was meant in every way for service or
use. Nothing ornate mars the practical
bility of its hilt. and yet there is a sug-
gestion of nervous force In the blue steel
of its blade.
appears perfectly fitting that alongside
this weapon Of defense should rest one
known as hanger" and worn by
French enlisted man during the same
struggle. It shows wear. and Is an en-
during tribute to one who was inspired to
fight solely by that well beloved French
motto. Liberty, equality. fraternity"
AA
Then there are swords worn by officers
Of the continental army and a very odd
looking, silver-mounted sword carried
throughout the revolutionary war by Col
John Cropper Of Virginia
The dress sword blade and scabbard OF
the famous John Hancock. whose family
name has since the earliest Indian wars
America, IL a cherished possession Of the
museum. He was Governor of Massachu-
Evening star., 1912-06-30

LORD LOREBURN, LORD CHANCEL-
LOR OF ENGLAND,
Who 10 the raAking member Of the 1u-
dicial committee OF the privy cOun.
Gil, the greatest court In the world.
the actions brought b9lors them just late
ly have furnished an ODD blending Of the
picturesque and the commonplace.
All within the past six weeks or so they
have had to listen to a dispute from the
Cape of Good Hope in which one native
farmer charged another with 'maliciously
driving locusts upon bis land" 70 . Ont
Evening star., 1912-06-30

events, Of any lack of variety In the
cases that come before them. 1t Is on
record that once after celebrating many
days over the appeal of a clergyman who
did not believe in infant damnation,
against the decree of a bishop forbidding
him to conduct services "a case which in
volved much argument concerning the
writings Of the early fathers and me-
dieval heresies), these aged arbitrators
calmly went on to settle question as to
whether the Buddhists of the Tibetan
border had reserved in their treaty the
Evening star., 1912-06-30

MORE Vivid Than Any
AvA Flash Of Oratory, Dis
play of Fireworks or Pahi-
otic Parade Is a Visit to Ma
tional Museum, Where Relics
of Revolution Are Preserved
The Uniform of Gen.
Washington Among Valu-
able Relics-The Famous
John Paul Jones Flag
Swords Owned by Many
Famous Warriors - Cannon
Balls Found on Revolution
ary Battlehelds.
Evening star., 1912-06-30

S the Fourth OF
July rolls around
each year the story
of the winning Of
A m eri can Inde-
pendence Is told
and retold In all
parts of the land.
The heroism and
suffering Of that
terrible conflict are
impressed upon the
p u b ] ! G m ! n d
Evening star., 1912-06-30

tive. the Rajah Of Panchakote. to recover
some land. which they claimed should be
devoted to their worship. and won their
case The pleadings of another action be-
twaen two Indian deities known as the
red god and the yellow god led to about
the uueerest scene ever witnessed In
Downing street. Rumor spread through
the suburbs Of London that the two gods
had condescended to lay their grievances
at the foot of the British throne. and
there was feverish excitement among the
knot Of pagans who fought for admission
to the court.
The lords Of appeal found in hard to
maintain their gravity when q priest en-
tssed and. after q profound salaam to the
vhola court, begged permission Of an at
Evening star., 1912-06-30

of .
natives in

the courts Of the province which grant
ed her $1,000. But the big railway cor
poration. being unsympathetic in affairs
OF this kind, was wroth over this deci-
sion and decided to defeat 1t.
It retained the best counsel (while the
widow had only the services Of young
local lawyer who was convinced OF the
justice OF her case) and appealed to the
supreme court. This body was greatly
impressed by the cogent arguments OF
the company's counsel, and gave them
the verdict. and IL there had been no
right OF appeal to Caesar" in tho Brit
ish empire. that would have ended the
matter. The needy young widow would
Evening star., 1912-06-30
CRUDE CANNON BALL AND
PISTOL IlOr1 A REVOLUTIONARY
BAT TLEFIELD
Two PIXIES MAZE IRON
HART Or BRITISH War VESSEL

that warrior as a young man. He IL
wearing the uniform or a lieutenant in
the continental army, with a gun stuck
under his arm, and his demeanor is rather
that of a jaunty young soldier than the
sedate grave man he became as result
of that struggle.
Near il is a small hand-embroidered
pocket pin cushion carried through the
war by an officer who probably used II TO
keep his needles IN, and there is silver
spoon made from the knee buckles or
Lieut.. Ephriam Sawyer of Massachusetts.
No greater object lesson could be given
the average boy in ith of July spirit than
the history OF this patriot who with his
six sons, served so creditably in the war.
-.
The silver and cut steel shoe and knee
buckles OF Charles Carroll OF Carrollton
have been contributed TO Americas revo-
lutionary relics by the still fourishing
family Of that name. In addition TO the
dress-sword blade he used and these
buckles there is also a very exquisite
walking stick once used nv him. When
even some of the brave signers of the
Declaration were hestating to write their
names to that document of death. he
boldly put after his signature the words
"of Carrollton.' adding by way OF ex-
planation that IF the enemy want me
they will know just where TO find me-
The epaulets worn by Gen. William
Smallwood when he commanded the
MARYLAND line of the continental army
at the battle of Brooklyn Heights are
treasured there. And large metal tray.
which has descended from father to son
since the revolution. Is the chief object
of interest in one OF the cases. This has
a dull brown surface against which a
group of hand painted peaches still re-
tain their red coloring II was once used
for serving refreshment at an important
gathering of continental officers near
Concord, Mass. when one OF the big
movements of a battle were planned out.
=.
' And even the average person who fails
Q to thrill over inaniniate objects can
I scarcely look unmoved at a wooden can
teen which is one of the humblest ex-
q hibits in the display. 1t was the property
8 Of John Paulding-one of the trio which
a captured Maj. Andre of the British army.
J About the oldest garment in the Sec
: ton Of the museum given over to such
war relics is a viv1dly red coat Its collar
and cuffs and inset waistcoat are OF a
brilliant yellow or deep buff. 1t is law
3 ishly ornamented with silver braid and
4 trimmed with silver buttons and is. alto
. gether. such a gaudy, conspicuous affair
that a modern young man would rather
face q regiment than wear 1t abroad
Its first owner. Capt. Eli Dagworthy.
. did both. appearing In it as an officer in
the French and Indian wars prior to the
{ revolution. He was elder brother of a
continental army and also won distinc-
ton. But 1t is not recorded that he
. could ever be dissuaded from the fascina-
8 tons Of his ''red coat"
Evening star., 1912-06-30

II an unimposing
room in Downing
street, where the
British government
mostly has its be-
ing. four unro-
mantle English
men were occupied
a few days ago in
deciding how a
Hindoo idol should
be managed. The
idol In question
Evening star., 1912-06-30


is 800 years old and has a yearly in
inhabits temple in the Indian dis
trict of Dakore, a part OF the domain or
the now famous Gaekwar of Baroda, and
It was grating" propensties on the
part Of the savaks priests. who have
this temple in charge. that brought the
image and its affairs first into the local
court Of Ahmedabad, then into the high
court OF Bombay. and finally before the
four rather tired old men who dispense
Justice in the dusty plain paneled room
IN Downing street
These four venerable juristS made
short work of the affiuent RanchhodraiJi
Maharaj and his priestly ministrant.
mere idol. even one with a tidy income is
nothing TO them, for in the course OF
every year. besides no end Of other queer
disputes In every part of the British
empire. they have TO settle squabbles
between millionaire corporations, high
and mighty native potentates. and, quite
frequently. misunderstanding between
gods. The committee men are Lord Mac
naughten, Lord Atkinson. Lord Shaw
and Sir John Edge. and as they sit there.
in ordinary dress. around a plain ma
hogany table in the little room that any
one can enter by climbing a flight OF
stairs and pushing aside red baize cur
tain, they form what Is described and
probably rightly as 1.-The greatest court
In the world"
We Americans figure that our Supreme
Court. as the final tribunal OF appeal
sor over lO0.0O0.000 people, is some
oourt," but this innnitely less impressive
Evening star., 1912-06-30

Father" said he. "if you still believe
you are right pay no attention to ttIe e.
der Of our court Would you believe the
Evening star., 1912-06-30
.ial Correspondence OF The Star.

LONDON, June 20, 1912.