CURRENT LITERATURE.
LEGAL LIFE AND HUMOUR.
Legal Life and Humour. By Joseph Heighten. (Header and Stoughton. 2s. Etch net.)--We had often suspected, from the reports of jokes in-Court proceedings, that it was the peculiar and special surroundings in which the joke was made that gave it its value. In no other way could we account for the loud laughter" that resulted, for the joke itself is often but a poor thing. This suspicion is strengthened by Mr. Heighton's book. There are enough amusing anecdotes and passable jokes to make it entertaining to dip into, but there is a disappointing absence of real humour. Only a few of the efforts of modern wits come well out of the test of being read in cold print. One of these is-Sir Edward Carson's reply to the Judge who pointed out to him a discrepancy between the evidence of two witnesses, one a carpenter and the other a publican. "That is so, my Lord. Yet another case of difference between Bench and Bar." More successful were the wits of the old days. Baron Bramwell once addressed a jury as follows Gentlemen of the Jury, the prisoner at the Bar is indicted for stealing a horse. To this charge he has pleaded guilty, but the learned counsel is convinced this was a mistake. The question, therefore, is one for you, gentlemen, which you will believe. If you should have any doubt, pray bear in mind that the prisoner was there and the learned counsel wasn't."
Mr. Heighten also tells some good stories of Lord Ellenborough, one of which, 'though often quoted, is worth recalling as characteristic of his rather cruel sarcasm:—
"There was an occasion when a young barrister, holding his first brief, began : 'The unfortunate client for whom it is my privilege to appear—my—lord—the unfortunate client for whom. I appear. I wish to say, my lord, my unfortunate client—' Leaning forward, Lord Ellenborongh interrupted the halting counsel in a soft cooing voice : Yon may go on, sir. So far the Court is with you.' " The Scottish and American Bars are disappointing, but the chapter on the Irieh Bar yields some amusing quips. Judge Morris sentenced a mare at Cork Assizes for a violent attack on the police. The prisoner as he left the dock shouted defiantly : "God save Ireland !" "My friend," said Lord Morris, "you are just one of those persons who make it impossible for God to save Ireland. Remove the prisoner." Mr. Heighten also -has ()hag:tars -on " Hemmed of the -Witness Box," "Rumours of the Jury Box," &o.
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