ANANIAS AND OTHERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1179, 14 July 1911, Page 4

ANANIAS AND OTHERS.

LITERATURE AND LAW. One. or two interesting 'little discussions on Scriptural and literary topics have enlivened the proceedings in tho Massey v. '"limes" libel case. Tho character wild actions of Ananias have, been debated, it was in Mr. Justice Chapman's summing-up at Hie original hearing that, his Honour said; "So far as tho allegory is concerned, it is somewhat puzzling. ' Ananias is represented as a de-basod-looking donkey. My recollection of Ananias is that ho was an unbusinesslike- business man, who transacted a transparent piece of business by means of a sordid lie. We ore accustomed to hear rhe term used to describe, not merely a liar, but a sordid liur. Ananias was not hitched to a cart. He was hitched to a wife." When his Honour's summing-up was under the consideration of tho Court of Appeal, Mr. Bell, K.C.. remarked that he had gone to the trouble of looking up the exact position, and ho found that Ananias was not so wicked as seemed to be generally supposed. His offence apparently was that ho handed over to the Apobtle's only part of tho proceeds of the sale of his property, instead of (he whole, as he said. Mr. Justico Denniston remarked that it was too late to attempt to justify Ananias now.

Another exchange of views took place over a matter of hitching metaphorical wagons to one thing or another. Underneath the notorious cartoon arc the words:

"Hitch your wagon to a star.—Emerson. Hitch your wagon to a lie.—Dr. Findlay's amendment." > Upon this Mr. Justice Denniston. observed Uiat it seemed unfortunate, that the name of Dr. Findlay should go down, to posterity, linked i with such a strange antithesis, and making him appear to l>e the author of a most reprehensible exhortation.

Mr. Solomon, K.C., explained that Dr. Findlay was not giving advice, but that ho used the words in the course of a speech describing and condemning certain phases of political warfare. Mi'.' 'Justice Sim said be believed tbo saying, "Hitch your wagon to a lie," did not originate with Dr. Findlay,. but with Elbert Hubbardi in America.'