Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 05.pdf/562

 London Legal Letter.

523

A CONTRAST. BY WENDELL P. STAFFORD. Д THENS reclined, but Sparta sat, /Л. To take the cup. Deliberating, Athens sat; Sparta stood up. In speaking, Athens made a show Of word and wit. Spartan debate was Yes and No. That settled it. Athens, when all is vainly fought, Flies from the field.

Sparta brings home, or else is brought Upon, the shield. The Attic pen was wielded well; The world has read. What Lacedsemon had to tell, Her right arm said. Something the Spartan missed, but gained The power reserved That lets the crown pass unobtained, Not undeserved.

LONDON LEGAL LETTER. LONDON, Oct. 2, 1893. TOURING the long vacation there is little of weeks Lincoln's Inn Hall has been the scene of the annual conference of the Institute of Journal ists, an association which grows every year in influence and popularity. One of the most inter esting features of the proceedings was the paper entitled "The Journalist before the Law," read by Mr. Joseph R. Fisher. Mr. Fisher, who is a member of the bar, and a specialist in everything pertaining to the law of libel and press law gener ally, is also one of the ablest journalists in London. His views have commanded a large amount of attention among lawyers and journalists, as those of one specially qualified to deal with the subject. Mr. Fisher is far from satisfied with the position of the journalist before the law, and anticipates still further encroachments on his liberty in the matter of privilege of parliament and contempt of court. Personally, I strongly favor the present attitude of parliament and the courts towards the press. There can be no reasonable doubt that many newspapers and periodicals would gravely transgress in many directions were judicial vigilance and authority to be relaxed. Within recent years the administra
 * -** legal interest to record. Within the last few

tion of the law of libel has meted out severe and timely punishment to several journals, whose mor dant columns had attacked the fair fame of worthy citizens. The vacancy in the Court of Appeal, occasioned by the promotion of Lord Justice Bowen to the House of Lords, has been filled up by the appoint ment of Sir Horace Davey, the leader of the Chancery Bar. Had the new Lord Justice pos sessed the slightest tincture of political aptitude, he would inevitably have reached the woolsack; but his popular gifts are of the humblest order, and the ordinary elector never could appreciate the unique intellectual gifts which underlay a demeanor intensely frigid, and devoid of the magnetism necessary to the platform speaker. Some years ago, when an exceptional number of appeals from all parts of the empire stood in the lists of the judicial committee of the Privy Council, Sir Horace Davey appeared in almost every one, and his in come reached a figure which has only once or twice been equalled or surpassed in the annals of the bar. He is regarded as not only the acutest but the most learned lawyer in England, and the very highest anticipations are formed of his future judicial career.