WIT OF THE BAR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 422, 3 February 1909, Page 9

WIT OF THE BAR.

AMUSING RECOLLECTIONS. After thirty-fivo jcars of practice at tha Bar, Mr. T, £ Crisps, K C , marked his retirement from activo service by delivering a lecture before his colleagues and friends at Steimvay Hall on ' The Wit and Oratory of Bench and Bar." The Lord Chief Justico and many ■well-known justices were present. Mr. Crispo had something amusing to say of most of tho prominent figures of tho 'past'fifty-years Mr Justice Maule, Sir George Jowl, Baron Bramvioll, Lord Chief Justice Coleridge, Serjeant Ballantvne, Sir | Frauds Lockwood, Henry Hawkins, and John Day were some of the many of whose wit he gave examples. 01 Mr. Justice Maule it lvas related that a little girl was once brought up to be examined by bim "Do you know what an oath is, my child?" ho asked. "Yes, sir. It moans I am obliged to tell the truth." "And if you alwnjs toll the truth where will jou go to when your dus*"', "To heaven, v sir." "And what will became of you if you I toll lies?" "I shall go to a naughty placo."' "Aie you sure of that?" ,"Yes, sir." "Let , 1 her bo sworn," 6aid tho judge, "she knows . 1 a great deal moro than I do ' Mr. H. F. Diokens, KC , was onoo introduced to Baron Bramwell as > the son of tha "well-known Chirles Dickens" "Well- ' known Charles Dickens," roared Bramwell; ' "you might as well say well-knoun Julius Caesar "

» In a breach of pror..iso action Henry Hawkins, who represented the defendant, asked if Jus name was Richard. "Yes," replied the lady. "And I believe sometimes you call him Dick " "Yes, sir." "Ah, pretty little Dicky," carte tho reply; "you know how to nrnko him sing."