THE BAR DINNER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2058, 3 August 1893, Page 38

THE BAR DINNER.

From the following lines, picked np early in the morning in the vestibule of the Grand Hotel, we infer that the memb*s of the legal profession must have enjoyed themselves at the complimentary dinner given by them on Saturday night to Mr Jnstice Williams and Mr Justice Ward. The author has evidently been diverting his attention from the serious consideration of Home Rule :— The "Divil's Own" Dine. 'Twas Saturday night, and the air fraught wid Wid the cowld my owld carcase did shiver and twisht *, Of the crathur 1 a toodthful methought I could shtand — My finances were right I I Bhlipped into the Grand. ,

'Twas the shwatest dear Hebe I clapped my eyes on, As I pulled out my shiner, and named my pi-son. "What's the ructions upstairs, and all the great shine ? " Says she, wid a shmile, "It's the s .' Divil's Own' Dine." Begorra, a shpree aroused my owld blood. My heart bate my ribs wid a quickening thud ; I ascended those shtairs wid a feeling divine To see the divarshun— the "Divil's Own Dine. There waslawyers and judges, and magistrates too, And barrishters bo wid, sans wig and sans queue, Solicitors shly— all in swallow tails fine 1 ; There was thirty and ten at the "DiviVs Oivn Dine. They had oysthers and fish and turkey and quail, And chicken and duck— och & trate it was rale; And champagne and chablis and all soorts of wineThere was oceans of liquor at the Divil's Own Dine. Shlowly they thravelled right through the menu, Not so wid the fun, for the fun faster grew : The shmiles on their faces as the clock it shtruck nine Showed joy unthrammelled at the " Divii'a Own" Dine. \ And spaches galore, you ne'er heard the loike, No quarrelling or nagging or threatening to shtroike ; In court they can f oight and show faces feline : It aU disappears when the " DiviUs Own" Dine. Such love and esteem had the Bar for the Bench, A judge dropping off, 'twould give them a wrench ; AH the lawyers would fall into decline— At least so they said— at the " Divil's Own " Dine. And didn't the Bench shpake loud in the praise Of the Bar and its docile and meek humble ways, And thoir talents so great and tlmper* benign : 'Twas amusing to listen— to the "D'.viVs Own" Dine. And didn't they toast the Legislatures, That made laws wid wide gaps and funny fissures ! A coach could drive through all their work asinine. How" they blest them and laughed — at the " Divil's Own " Dine. The Practitioners Bill, said the gentle replier, Was for Parli'ment numbers who had the desire To shun fractions and grammar, and creep in from behin' To the jovial boards where the "Divil's Own Dine. The Clients wero toasted wid many a blessing ; Busy lives had been shpent their wrongs in redressing. , Long moight they live to como round wid the coin, And heighten the joy at the "Divil's Own" Dine. Such reciting and singing I never did hear ; Such fun and such frolic— 'twas fit for a peer. For my future, I feol, I need never repine If the nixt world's as happy as the " DiviVs Own Dine.