WONDERFUL-IF TRUE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 201, 12 December 1876, Page 4

WONDERFUL-IF TRUE.

Thts fifo'efo/i/c It*firmer vouches for the following fanny incident as havingoccurred ia a Court in Simeue recently:—" Mistake#, will happen in the beat regulated fanriiMS ami the adage might be very appropriately applied to Court-rooms : at all events, a ludicrous mistake occurred in t&e Slmctae Court-room the other. A cartaia lady, evidently unsophisticated in legpl Court etiquette— although she was evidently well versed in other kinds of conrting—was called for a witness; she timidly stepped into the box, and the oath was solemnly read over to her, when she waa apparently in a f|it»nd:*ry what to do Beat. The |«d_je, seeing the woman hesitate, said * iwisa the book." The tady blushed, and, to the astonishment—we BBghffc add satisfaction—of the venerable crier of the Conrt, reached down and gave him a genuine kiss. The Cottrt smiled out aloud, and even the stem features of the judge were seef. to relax. Again the woman was told Jo kiss the book, and again the magnetic influence of the crier*3 ambrosia! features draw her attention, and he received a second " smack." The Court, by this time, was; convulsed in laughter, the judge gave evident signs of uneasiness, and the constables cried «* Silence" and " Order," to divert attention from themselves. A very- careful explanation was then given to the woman that it was the Bible and not the venerable fitter of the Court that she was expected to WW; the dttty was performed, and the Court resumed the inquiry into dry facts and stern realities.