Year: 1874

Naked Justice on Gate Post.


Our old friend Judge Tom Farrar
of Lake Providence, says the NsH
Orleans PicayUns, who is known
throughout the State as lawyer and
3 jurist Of eminent abilities, and q
gentleman Of most loYable charac-
ter, tells at his own expense, and
with the ketHsst gusto, a story which
We think too good TO lose. It ap-
pears that some years ago, while
riding through one Of the prettiest
districts Of North Louisiana, he
came about sundoWn to q creek
which was so deep as to necessitate
swimming fess The Judge being
man Of vigorous and inYincible
determination, no sooner realized
this emergency than he promptly
dismounted, undressed himself with
great dispatch, and attired only in q
plug hat and a pair Of spectacles,
bestrode his gallant cob and urged
him to the venture.


After a desperate struggle the
other side was gained, and the udgs
again dismounting, this time with s
profound sigh Of relief, was about
to resume his integuments, when tho
horse, prompted by some diabOlieai
spirit, started from his side and trot-
ted slowly down the road.


OF course, the Judge had no re-
course but to trot after him; and
thereupon there ensued one Of the
most remarkable and picturesque
chsses ever known in history or tra-
dition. The horse appeared to have
no motive save that Of keeping q
certain distance ahead Of the Judge,
and Of finding some comfortable
barnyard where he might refresh
himself after such gigantic efforts.
The Judge, whatever may have beer
his ambitions, confined himself to
the effort Of keeping the truant beast
in sight 1t must have been 3 cheer
ful and inyigorating experience to
see the Judge trotting briskly along
that smooth and sandy road, his ven
erable plug hat pulled over his eyes,
and his spectaeles bobbing up and
down upon his nose. The chase
was long, and the moisture Of grest
exertion would gather on bis brow,
and then, when he reached around
for his handkerchief, alasl it was
not there. All Of which hsd the ef-
feet of impressing the. Judge with
his very peculiar and unfortunate
situation, and imparting renewed
play and lightness to his legs


So the two boWled pleasantly
along, preserving q steady relative
distance, until just as the setting
sun was reddening the distant hills
and'touching the judges manly form
with gold, the horse Whisked sudden
" into q gate and bolted with eager
haste toward q stable dimly visible
in the distance.


The farm house sat in q grove Of
trees, whose shadows made great
darkness round it, and from this
grove, as the Judge was seamperiag
furiously after his horse and ward
robe, there issued sundry yellow
dogs, surly Of mein and shaggy Of
appearance. The Judge felt that it
would be utterly impossible under
these circumstances to assume that
majesty of aspect and fearlessness
of gaze which is currently believed
to be the correct thing with dogs,
and so, seeing q friendly gate post
near at hand, he gave one wild
bound and reached the sumuit just
as the leanest and dercest Of the
dogs snapped vieiously 1t his legs.


When the uproar had subsided,
and the Judge, realizing the absurd
ity of the situation, had regained his
customary frame Of mind, female
voice was heard calling rom the
house:


"Who's there?


"a fellow creature in Distress
madam"


"Waere are you?p


aOn the gate post" said the
Judge, beginning to enjoy the Joke.


&What can I do for your


II was too much. The Judges
old humor and quizzical love Of mer-
rimant came over him.


sCaIl or these dogs, and bring ne
al the 10 Ieares on the place"