Sketcher.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 391, 5 November 1903, Page 7

Sketcher.

' STIMULATING.' In a county-court case a hairdresser waß caned te give evidence that a certain patented mixture could.not do harm when applied to the hair. On the contrary, he contended, it wa3 a stimulant to the brain. 'How could it strengthen my brains,' asked the lawyer,!-with aßnees, 'if I rubbed some of this on my head ?' 1 Perhaps it couldn't,' admitted the wit-

ness, gloomily; 'you must have something to start with, you know.' Another barrister of the blustering type met hiß equal the other day. A cabman was rebuked for not answering precisely enough. ' Now,' demanded cjunseJ, ' you drive a hansom V The witness thought for a moment, then dissented. ' But you to!d my learned fiiand a moment ago that you did.' The witness still persisted in a

denial, even when reminded in solemn tones that he was 'on outh.' '-What, then, is your calling?' demanded the exasperated lawyer. 'To be quite precise, your honour, I drives a horse,* was the rairth.producing reply. • * wish you would pay a little attention,' stormed an advccite, laying a natural but unlucky emphasis on the word 'little.' 'I am paying as little attention as I can,' was the calm reply. For a moment both judge and counsel were in doubt whether the witness had intended any impertinence. Bat the twinkle in his eye gave him away, and the judge was obliged to lecture him severely.

SPICES.—PURE AND OTHERWISE. Spices properly used have their value in helping digestion and stimulating the now of the gastric and pancreatic juices, and at the time thsy tempt the jaded appetite to a better relish of good, wholesome foods. Bat spices are not always what they are sold for (writes Dr. A. S. Atkin3on. in the ' Scientific American.').

Whatever the nature of the material used for adulterating, it is always cheaper- than the genuine goods. It is ueually some woody substance, which when ground fiae enough will pass muster without bsiag easily detected. Thu3 in such Bp:c33 as clovss, cinnamon, mace allspice, nutmeg, mustard and ginger; 'there are many such materials as ground cornmeal, parched whaac, peas, beans and coffee be&ne, which can easily be raised with them without changing the general appearance or even taste beyond lessening the strength. Ginger is frequently adulterated with pepper, mustard halls and tumeric. Cinnamon has quite a variety of materials used for cheapening its retail cost. Cassia, arrowroot, mustard hulls charcoal, burnt shells and cracker dust are all frequently ground to swell the bulk of the e pice. Then in cloves we have some of these same materials, and such other articles as clove stems and hulls ground up, allspice, peas' wheat and even mineral colors. Nutmegs, since the days of the first Yankee nutmegs made in Connecticut of white birch colored to resemble the natural ones have been susceptible to considerable adulteration, and starch, cereals, mustard, peas, and other' roasted articles go to make up ground nutmegs. Pepper has its weight increased with the addition of such cheap and harmless substances as bran, peas, rice, corn, charcoal, mustard hulls, sago, arrowroot and cocoanut shells. None of these add any spicy flavor to the combination, but they serve to enhance the profits of the maker. If one had the time to separate these different articles of adulteration and examine them carefully through a microscope, he would easily see the deception practised upon him. -

THE LIGHT SIDE OF THE LAW. All who have gone through the ordeal of cross-examination at the hands of a hostile barrister are aware that counsel is permitted to put questions that he would searcely dare to ask outside the law. coasts. Bat in some cases a blustering hamster meets .with an uapleasant su£ prise, 'You are in the travelling-show line ?' inquired the lawyer of one witness, upen wbcse evidence he wished to throw discredit. 'Bather a low calliag, isn't it ?' ' Perhaps so/ replied the showman, humbly,' but it's so much better than my father's waa that I've been almeat proud of it' 'Ah! And your fathsr was » gently insinuated the barrister seeking to make capital-out of the admission, ' A lawyer," the witness answered, in such a tone of pained humiliation that the whole court rang with laughter. Thb Season Why,

The counsel for the defence in a recent burglary case came to grief in a little argument with a female witness—just at the moment, too, when he thought that he had trappod her. The woman had sworn to the identity of the prisoner whom she had eeen in the bedroom at oae o'clock in the morning. : How much light was there?' counsel demanded. • Not much,* the witness admitted, *:but enough to ' < Oould you Bee your husband at your side?' The witness hesitated, then admitted that she could not. 'Then, madam,' queried the bardster, in great triumph, 'tell the ja?y how it was you could see the prisoner, and yet could not see your husband?' His joy was quickly dissipated. Said the witness, smiling. 'Simply because the nrisoner wrs there—and my husband was not.' The Judge's Advice, When a witness is desirous of setting his wits against the counsel's, the latter generally fiada a powerful ally in tho judge, who will sternly warn ihe offender that he will be committed for contempt of court unless ha answers the questions more respectfully. On one occasion, however, the counsel's appeal to the judge was scarcely successful. He had been buliyintran unfortunate witness for some time, and put.a question which decidedly reflected on the man's moral character. ' It ya say that agin, I'll break your head,' the angry witness threatened. ' I must have an aaswer to my question, your lorduhip,' the barrister insisted, ' so what would your lordship advise me do?' The judge, with, a smile, gave decision: 'lf you mean to repeat your query, I think I should advice you to move a little further from the witness.' si