RESPECTING THE LAW.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16734, 16 May 1922, Page 7

RESPECTING THE LAW.

(By WALT MASON). The law decreed, in olden times that witches should be burned ; the courts abhorred their mystic crimes, and all their pleadings spurned. My grandsire thought they ought t© ditch all statutes of tho kind; lie thought the burning of a witch was not a sport refined 44 But while such laws are in the book." my grandsire used to sigh. ** around us daily we must look, for witches we may fry.” Was there a beldame anywhere. who owned a cat or snake, my grandsire traced her to her lair, and tied her to a stake. He said. Th© Law mnet be obeyed while men for justice seek, and though I hate, t-o burn a jade. J burn one every week. I doubt if witches really work much evil and distress, although they’re roasted by the kirk, and by the law and press. But it is not for me to say what laws aj-e light or wrong. : I've built a roaring fire to-day, so. witches, come along.” The law he doubted was repealed long since, as fierce and vain ; old women now may now go afield, with black cats in their train. And if some aerobatic dam© can on a broomstick ride, the people will applaud her game and point to her with pride. Th© law thafc’e evil or absurd will from the volume fade ; but. while it is the nataom’s word, let’s se«> that it’s obeyed.