Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 08.pdf/550

 Ct)e #rem Bag. Published Monthly, at $4.00 per Annum.

Single Numbers, 50 Cents.

Communications in regard to the contents of the Magazine should be addressed to the Editor, Horace W. Fuller, 15^ Beacon Street, Boston, Mass. The Editor will be glad to receive contributions of articles of moderate length upon subjects of inter est to the profession; also anything in the way of legal antiquities or curiosities, facetia, anec dotes', etc. THE GREEN BAG. With this number The Green Bag completes its eighth year. It has made an enviable name and a place for itself in legal literature, and is now the recognized exponent of the " entertain ing " and lighter phases of the law. That the lines on which the magazine has been conducted are satisfactory to our readers is evidenced by the loyalty of our subscribers and their pleasant words of commendation. For the future, then, The Green Bag will follow the same general plan as in the past, but we can promise our readers that for the coming year it will be more in teresting than ever. In addition to our regular contributors, a number of prominent writers have promised articles, which we are sure will attract much attention. The illustrated articles and biographical sketches will be of unusual interest, and our fund of anecdote and facetiae is by no means exhausted. In fact, we are loaded up to the muzzle with good things. This number of The Green Bag will go into the hands of nearly every practicing lawyer in the United States. We bespeak for it a careful examination by those who are not familiar with it, and trust that they will show their appreciation of its merits by at once subscribing for it. LEGAL ANTIQUITIES. Few people are aware that in two countries at least laws have been passed giving women the right to propose marriage. In case of refusal to accept the hand of the suitor a heavy fine was imposed upon the unfortunate man. Among the ancient records of Scotland a searcher has re cently discovered an act of Scottish parliament, passed in the year 1288, which reads as follows :

"It is statut and ordaint that during the rein of his maist blissit Begeste, ilk for the yeare knowne as lepe yeare, ilk mayden ladye of bothe highe and lowe estait shall hae liberte to bespeke ye man she likes, albeit he refuses to taik hir to be his lawful wyfe, he shall be mulcted in ye sum ane dundis or less, as his estat may be; except and awis gif he can make it appeare that he is betrothit ane ither woman he then shall be free." A few years later a similar law was passed in France and received the approval of the king. It is also said that before Columbus sailed on his famous voyage a similar privilege was granted to the maidens of Genoa and Florence. There is no record of any fines imposed under the Scotch law or trace of statistics of the number of spin sters who took advantage of it or the French enactment.

FACETIÆ. "He's a great criminal lawyer, isn't he?" "Well, I believe he always stops short of actual criminality."

"Can't tell anything about the case yet," said the lawyer, " the jury is hung." "Jerusalem! " exclaimed the prisoner, " that does beat all! But I knowed my friends 'ud lynch 'em if they got a chance at 'em!"

Judge Campbell tells a story about the crossexamination of a bad-tempered female in his court. She was an amazonian person. Her husband, obviously the weaker vessel, sat sheep ishly listening. The opposing attorney pressed a certain question rather urgently, and she said angrily : " You needn't think to catch me. You tried that once before." The lawyer said, " Mad ame, I have not the slightest desire to catch you, and your husband looks as if he was sorry he did." 507