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THE LIGHTER SIDE THE following incident occurred in an Ohio court. Two neighbors—both well-known men— were settling a difficulty by a rather vigorous law-suit. The jury retired and spent much time in deliberation without reaching an agree ment. In their room one of the members finally approached Farmer Smith, who had taken but little part in the discussion and asked him his opinion. "Well, to tell you the truth," said he, "I'm sort o' stumped as to how this thing ort to go. I know both these fellers purty well, and I can't say as I have .anything particular against either one of •em." FAIR LITIGANT.—I shall appeal my case to the Heavenly Court. JUDGE.—Will you tell me how to draw the motion. I may want to report my own case. VERBATIM copy from the acknowledgment on a deed, State of Texas, County of Dentón:— Be it known that this day in person afore before the undersigned authority Francis Dickinson and lady, that is well known to me and acknowledged that they executed and delivered the foregoing deed of conveyance for all the concedintion therein set forthauny export and the said Anartia being by me privily and apart from said wasband examined and sayses that it is an act of her own accord we with—fear or compulsion on the part of said husband. Given under my hand and legal of office this Sept. 19, 1860. YOUNG LAWYER.—" If your honor please, I •wish to take judgment by default." JUDGE. —"But you cannot take it in that way." YOUNG LAWYER. —"Well, your honor, what would you advise me to do?" JUDGE.— "1 would advise you, young man, to go back to your office and advise your client to hire another lawyer." AT one of the recent lectures by Professor George Kirchwey, Dean of Columbia Law Col lege, New York, the students were uneasy.

There was something wrong in the air. Books were dropped, chairs were pushed along the floor. There were various interruptions. The nerves of all were on edge. The members of the class kept their eyes on the clock and awaited the conclusion of the hour of the lec ture. The clock beat Professor Kirchwey by perhaps a minute, but at the expiration of the schedule time the students started to their feet and prepared to leave. "Wait a minute," objected Professor Kirchwey; "don't go just yet. I have a few more pearls to cast." — Argonaut. GEORGE WASHINGTON THOMAS, an ablebodied negro of Sleepy Hollow, appeared be fore Magistrate Nussbaum charged with steal ing chickens. The negro was accompanied by his lawyer, Colonel Simmons, a rising young white attorney. The old judge sauntered into the dingy court-room where he had reigned for more than twenty years, and after calling for order he looked around on the little com pany there assembled. Seeing George Wash ington Thomas, he pointed to him and said: "Be you the'defendant in this case?" Quick as a flash George was on his feet, and, not understanding legal terms, he exclaimed politely : "No, sah; no, sah; I ain't de 'fen'ant: dar's de 'fen'ant ovah dar." And saying which, he pointed to his lawyer. There was a gen eral laugh about the room, in which the queer old judge joined heartily. The darkey felt abashed. He was visibly embarrassed, and, thinking to correct the mistake, if mistake it were, he said again, pointing at his lawyer, "Yas, sah; he's de 'fen'ant," and, pointing to himself, he said, "I's de gent'man what stole de chickens." — Lippincofl's. IN a certain Illinois town a teamster had been arrested and tried before a justice of the peace on a charge of cruelty to animals. It was alleged in the complaint that the team ster had brutally kicked and otherwise abused the horse driven by him. The evidence failed to show that the teamster had maltreated the horse as charged in the complaint, but it de veloped that the defendant was unusually