Peculiar Justice.

Otago Witness, Issue 2647, 7 December 1904, Page 78

Peculiar Justice.

Wonderful are tlif ways of justice when she once sots foot in tropical lands! Possibly the climate is there too stimulating lor her brain, since she apparently grows more proficient ia ai.ful devices, and afe the same time more reckless in tipping her scales. She is hy no moans the same calm individual who aids the law in cooler countries. A oertam captain once left Marseilles for China. Lin, being buffeted by the winds, made for tho harbour of Tunisr, to await better weather. The collector of the port earue- on board, and although the captain stated that ho was freighted for Canton, and had nothing to do with Tunis, the - collector succeeded in proving to him that he must pay his haibour clues. Captain B did so. but repaired instantly to the palace of the bey, and demanded justice. "Good Frank," said the bey, "I am your friend. What do you want?" "Highness,'' answered the captain, "your oi.sEom house has robbed me. I have "had to pa 3' unjustly." "Excellent individual," answered the bey, "in this country, when we have the money, wo keep it. The first acquisition is a difficulty, but to give ftack a. thing is unknown in Africa." '•Shall I not have justice, then?" "Certainly; everyone has justice in Tunis. Will you have it in French or Tunis fashion?*' "French, justice, never ! I am in & hurry !" "So be. it, then," replied the bey. "What is yoi'r cargo?" "Marseilles soap and twenty thousand cotion rap-." "II is \vell : <>o away and he tranquil." The- bey then summoned liis vizie&

"Viaier," said he, "we love justice; we • leve tho "Tranks Proclaim that every i Jew who appears out of doors to-morrow without a cotton cap will have a little transaction to settle with me." ' The-re were some thousands of Jews in Tunis, and there was not a single cotton. cap. , The- unfortunate men were preparing for death when they learned that Captain B had an abundance of the desired article That was enough; he was able to sell his entire lot for eight shillings a cap. ; He- rushed to the bey's palace, and poured forth his tharflcs. "Not so fast," said the "bey. "I have Hot done yet. ~Vizier, proclaim that -every Jew who Iceeps a, -cotton cap another hour have trouble with me." The- vizier mad© a -grand salaam, xmd; retired. When Captain B -returned ±o his ship, he found ti crowd of Jews already waiting him, caps in hand. • "He purchased all the articles again for a penny apiece, arid went on to Canton with , his cargo intact, and his purse -laden with the silver thus juggled -from the Jews. Jl shamed *f fiiai. aspirants ior literary honours in rural districts sometimes faiL to meet 'with favour and sympathy from their .parents, j or from' their less->aspiring rural neighbours, . and young --^poets "aTe ; often particularly -unfdrcunate -in - this- Tespect. .-• A desire ~to write poefcry_is- looked -upon as evidence of a., "weak spot" in a, boy's mental' organisation. The •teacher of _.a backwoods- .school gives Ihe .following, account of a 'private interview "he *had With "the father •" of one of. his pupils. *Ec was going home at the close of his second day with his new school, when he was accosted by a tall, gaunt man, ' ploughing in a : cornSeld. "Be you the new teacher?" asked the man. , _ I "I am." "" . -^ I "Well, now, I want to speak to you txrat that* boy of mine^ He come to school to-day, uidift he?" "What is his name?" "Jared Sparks." " - "Oh, yes; I remember him," said -the teacher. _,_ " ~~ ■ "Well, now, mister, what's your candid, out an' out "opinion of that hoy?" - W3iy, ( "I as!k is -that there's -some folks 'round . here that thinks he ain't much better _than an ejet, an' m& and bis maw foaxe -felt right bad • 'tout it ; you -see, lie's our only _ Ixjy. I'm afraid they ain't no denyin T that Jared 'ain't zactly right in" the upper •tprev."^ "* < What -raakes rcu think so? 7 ' 'XJause h^vS tuk, to writin po-try -at the awfullest Tate. He talks in T>o'try! Why. good laud f that boy dxeams in po'try. An' ms thongh i;ha± want -bad hie slops the piss, in po'try! Only last night- he, grabbed a pail of, swill, an' h& «ez— let me sec — he sez,— 1. Of this here paal o' swill ' - Thenf p&egs shell have iheir fill, Into it "their snouts -will go. ; Because them -pigs do iove swill- so. '"Well, - it"-Ck;rtainly looks like an .alarming «*se," ■ s»id the teacher,' laughing heartily. V^Oo you think" so?"- .asked the. father, anxiously. 'H.ieaJly -thought some o£ seem' the doctor 'bout it, .an' bavin' the boy £xed some way or nuthcr "so -he. wouldn't go on like -fchat.- He says ne can't help it. Be don't git his pof±icky_ Sailin' -from me ©r-liis maw, -nuther. 'W»«in?t so very sniaTt, bus we've got more -sense than to talk in po'try." "He'll outgrow it in time. I've no doubt," eaid the teacber, sootliittgly. "I do heps so. Me an? his 'maw* would foci -bad if m »e "was io ■torn -.out * no 'count poet "He's "awful .bad on moonlight nights, an" in the spring _.of the year. - There's no ctqppin' bim then. He'll talk right out in— -po'try -.!iore, .strangers even, tell bis mow a-n' nae are so asHamied of "*Jh'm— we~den't -know -wiat to do. I'd be willin' ?io give tbe .best" .cow IVe got on this farm tc anybody that'd break liini of them pceticky ways' -of "his'n^' _ _^ .!