A PECULIAR QUESTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1109, 24 May 1883, Page 1

A PECULIAR QUESTION.

If a doctor is also a lover, mn ha, in case of death, charge for the visits of affection as professional attendance t Such was the question decided by Mr Justice Chitty the o‘her diy The action was an administrative one, in which the next of kin of a maiden lady who le f t £4OOO behind her complained of toe charges made by her executor, a medical man, for exomtors’ expenses and professional services. . It app-ared that the defendant had been engaged to bemarried to the lady, and though the match had been broken off, he continued to attend her for a complaint of which she eventually died. The judge had to decide upon a charge of nearly £SOO for medical sevices, of which £93 was for two visits a day for 377 days at 2s 6d each. The plaintiff contended that the vi.-i's were made as a lover, and not as a doctor. But Mr Justice Chitty thought as the charge per visit was very moderate, though the number of viaiis was perhaps excessive, ho might allow him one visit a d.y as a doctor, and regarding the second visit as that of the lover knocked off half the charge. As, however, a charge of three guineas a day for taking the lady for drives was allowed to remain, the <h c-or's pocket has not suffered severely foi his devotion.

THE IRISH PATRIOT.

It having been intimated to Mr Parnell, M.P., that the movement for presenting him with a money testimonial for the purpose of freeing the Avondale estate from encumbrance, had been taken up in the United States on a sonviwn.it extensive scale, the hon member for Cork city has addressed a letter on the subject to Mr Mr D. Galh'gln r, of the Central Laud League, New ork. Writing from Palace Chambers, Westminister, Mr Parnell says : —‘ I have to thank you and other friends for (lie offer yon so kindly make to raise a subscription for the purpose of discharging -’.the mortgage ; but, while ful y appreciating the kiudn as of heart which prompts your offer of help, I feel that it would be impossible for mo to a cept it for many reasons. Ido not anticipate any embarrassment from the action of the mortgagees in givi-g me

notice of fori closure, as the sale, under the purchase clauses of the Lind A -t, which I had always intended to m ike to my tenants at the first convenient opportunity, w 11, I believe, amply’ snfti :o for the settlement of the charge in question. I could not, on auy account, “yen if the circumstances were other *. ise, consent to accept the kind proposals which have been made by fricn in Ireland of a similar nature to your own ; much bss c oil 1 I penult, a collc tion to ho made in Ame i.a. Again thanking you for the good fee’ing and great friendliness which have suggested your letter —I reimvn, yours v. ry truly, (,’h\Kl,ks S. Paknels ’’ Notwit hst-umi g this express : on of opinion on Mr Pii oeli’s part, f lic sins r’fition has been open d n Chicago by the • Citizen ’ newsp per of that city, whose editor has wi’hin Ilia past few days received over 2090 lols in answer to his appeal. Hitherto, in consequence of Mr Parnell’s aversion to the proposd, no cone rted action has been taken in Ireland, hut a C irami tie is in course of formation for the purpose of carrying the project into effect. As the member tor Cork persists in selling to his tenantry', it is intended that the Avonsdale demen°e land should hesicnrcd, and a sum of m niey equal to the amount required to liquidate the mortgage he invested in trust for Mr Parnell’s use and ben tit.

ARTEMUS IN A YOUNG LADY’S SCHOOL.

Artemu? Ward, after delivering a lecture once io New London, Co/m , was asked by the principal to pay a visit to her institution die next day. He wnt like ‘an am >osi’)g cits,’ and m ule the gir’s a a; te h. While walking to nc demy a 1 1;eot runaway occure I A j terrible horse went oaring over the pavement, with what Artemns called the ‘ forequart- rs’ of a waggon blattering at his bee s. This incident Artemns ingenions'y § utilised in bis address Said lie— * Tlie I vehicular elopement which h is just taken | place, young ladi s, has furnished us with I a tinrdy topic nl’discourse. Young ladies, | seimnaiies are ever exposed toiunaw-ys | Once, when Iravell ng with my show, I I came upon a female institution. There I were ladders, and lads too. as to that, nt I ■ very window. Many perpendiculars I carrying horizontals 'to the ground. “ Fire I’ I shouted. ‘‘ None of that,” replied a solemn voice from the orchard. < There ain’t on fire ; these are only young’ f. Hows running off with their sweethearts.’ There is moral entertainment for man and beast in. this mnawny. No horse, if attaced to a waggon, that is, if sincerely attached to it, will rnn away with it ; but the more a yonng nan is attached to a young woman, the more bn will run away with her, leaving no trace, in fact noneof the harness bellind. Young ladi >s, since I have stood before your beautiful faces; I have lost something, and if you or the boy that sweeps out, should find a red object looking like a coral breastpin that has been stepped on, you may know it as my poor, busted heart’ -