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ing place on the large open ground or near the time to do so, but because it plain round the courts, and a small was impossible to stop occasional stamcrowd had assembled to listen to the pedes into them by frightened crowds bidding. What with the noise and the at every new movement of the eleabsence of its proper keeper, the ani-phant, and because every one was in mal began to show signs of irritation, too excited a state to do any business. which of course only increased the At last another elephant, which was excitement and the noise amongst the kept at the police "lines," arrived on people. Suddenly it ran at one of the the scene, with chains and a number spectators, knocked him down, and was of men armed with spears to capture proceeding to tread the life out of him the truant, but immediately it caught when one of its " grass-cutters," stand-sight of its would-be capturers it turned ing by, struck it with a spear and drove tail and bolted, with its pursuers folit off. The driver on its back then got lowing, and was not secured until early frightened and, watching his opportu- the next morning, about thirty miles nity as the elephant went under a tree, distant, by its proper "mahout." seized hold of a branch and swung At other times it has happened that himself up. The elephant tried once the course of justice has been suspended or twice to push the tree down, but, by, what may seem to many, a strangely not being able to do this, it wandered small cause, contrasted with the story about in the thorough enjoyment of its I have just told. There was once a liberty, at every turn of its body send- district and sessions judge—“and a ing the panic-stricken but still curious good judge, too" — who had a particupeople, now collected in large numbers, lar antipathy to the notes of a bird scampering in all directions. Soon it which is generally known over some came upon a dog-cart belonging to one parts of India as the "brain fever" of the judge's clerks, who had probably bird-the proper ornithological name left his work to see the spectacle. The being, I believe, koel. The above horse had been taken out, and the nickname suggests the annoyance it elephant, lifting the whole vehicle up causes to the many Europeans who, in its trunk, with as much case, appar- when the temperature is high in the hot ently, as I should lift up a small terrier months, suffer from cerebral irritation. by the scruff of the neck, let it fall It begins in a comparatively low key, with a crash to the ground. By this getting gradually higher and higher in time every one who had any descrip- tones of greater and greater despair at tion of a vehicle within the vicinity, each repetition of notes, which I have and could get away, began to drive off often heard jokingly described as reas fast as possible. The courts became sembling the words 66 we feel it." demoralized, all turning out to witness When it has reached a point at which what would next take place. The its excited feelings seem to be most "grass-cutter" went to the animal, intense it stops and begins again with which, though it suffered him to ap- little or no interval. One dreadful proach, would by no means allow him peculiarity of this bird is that it sings to get on his back, or control him in at night as well as by day, and very any way. The police sent round a no- frequently takes its position just outtice to the few European bungalows-side the open door of a bungalow, it being near the time for the evening where some restless being is trying to drive to the effect that they should steal a few hours of unconsciousness in stay at home, or look out for the cle- the sultry heat. Now you can imagine phant. There was no need to proclaim the effect upon one of fine nervous the danger to the native bazaar, though organization in such a climate, in the I believe it was done, as the news heat of the day, perhaps after having would spread far faster in its natural had a night's performance of this course. The courts suspended work dreadful chant, with a crowded odorfor the day, not only because it was iferous court, and a case perhaps too

hopelessly entangled with lying, and | often in picturesque groups, in the too badly conducted by some second- verandahs, under the great peepul and rate pleaders to give one a chance of parca trees, or in the blistering sun. ever extricating the truth, except by At one time of the year there blows chance. Well, the story is current a hot wind from the west, with all that this judge used to keep a loaded the force of a hurricane. Clouds of gun in his court, ready at hand, and fine white dust rush along, covering whenever one of these intolerable everything and blinding every one. nuisances began to wail he would rush Then the European shuts up his bunout, stalk, shoot it, and returning into galow, and lives the day in darkness, court, quietly resume the proceedings but the wretched witness and the still as if nothing had happened of an un- more wretched suitor or party in the forensic character. cause has to sit, sheltering himself as best he can, day after day in attendance, and often for many days after the date fixed for his case to be tried.

The court buildings are generally spacious, singled-storied blocks, with a verandah round the four sides. There is, however, no waiting-room accommodation for the numerous pleaders and "Muktars,” still less for the crowds of litigants.

In the extensive ground round the courts markets thrive, money-changers and licensed stamp-vendors seem to do In most stations the a brisk trade, and most articles that are pleaders have erected, at their own procurable in the bazaar shops can be expense, a small bungalow, wherein had with a little judicious bargaining, they sit in one long room waiting for both cheap and good. Beggars, fakirs, their cases to be called on. This room and cripples of every description min

and regular position on the roadside leading to the courts. In one station there was an old woman, whom the natives called a witch. She lived close to the Magistrates' Courts, in a very small grass hut, something similar in shape to those erections in which our own gipsies live under the hedgerows. Here she kept twenty cats, cach one answering to its name by springing on to her shoulder in turn as she called it. She seemed a half-witted, perfectly harmless old dame. Whether, like Miss Flite, she had had her mind crushed, both "youth and beauty" blighted, and her vicinity to the courts and her fancy for cats could be connected with the history of some dreary lawsuits and injustice, I never knew. Soon after I saw her first she was evicted by the authorities, or taken away by her relatives; at all events she and her house disappeared, and I never heard of her again.

is open to the public, and the most im-gle with the crowd, or take their daily portant points of law, and business of the most vital interest to clients, are discussed and settled here in the midst of a noise and bustle sufficient to make the inexperienced European, accustomed perhaps to settle, or see matters settled of this kind in the quict of a barrister's, solicitor's, or some private room, wonder how it can be done. But it is all a matter of custom, and the native pleader has always been in the habit of giving his attention, whether it is to advise, argue points of law, or write out documents, in the midst of what the good old-fashioned housewives used to call “a duck market." In some places there is a very respectable law-library, got up by private subscription; and advocates, whose bungalows are perhaps a little distance off, sit there waiting for their cases, or consulting with their clients. The "Muktars" squat under an erection of grass and thatch, which we should in England call a shed; whilst Some curious cases crop up in these the unfortunate litigants, for whom courts occasionally. I remember one primarily, partly at whose expense, all in which the only real point at issue this wonderful system of law, these was the identity of a village. It really costly buildings and staff of officials was doubtful, from the evidence, are kept up, sit or stand anywhere, whether it had one name or another,

whether there were one or two vil- | wheel of a native vehicle from which, lages, and even whether it existed at perhaps, they have been uuharnessed. all or had become merged in some Occasionally they break loose, and imother. Native accounts are generally mediately 66 "" go for some other pony beyond the European intellect. Fortu- close by, and then most desperate fights nately for the judicial brain, the Pro- take place. They roar like wild beasts, cedure Code enables them to be handed rear, kick, bite, and roll each other to experts, who can submit an abstract over in the dust; and it becomes a of their investigations to the court. combat à outrance, until their owners or others rush to the spot, and with difficulty secure them again. And in the midst of the dense crowd round the courts you will often see a fat Brahminy bull walking lazily along to find some more suitable pasture, or on his way to join the herd of cows which daily grazes upon the scanty grass. Little or no notice is taken of him, his appearance is a sufficient guarantee of his disinclination for any kind of aggression that necessitates the least activity.

The bench, more especially the district and sessions judge, is subject to various annoyances, or what would be considered such in England. He is immediately and solely subordinate to the High Court, and it is the constant practice of, perhaps, disappointed suitors to send anonymous letters to the latter, with accusations against the partiality of the judge. In one, I remember, it was stated that he watched the eye of an old influential planter in the district, who was in the habit of attend- The court hours are from 11 A.M. to ing the court for cases he was interested 4 P.M., unless they are changed, as in; and the innuendo was, of course, they sometimes are during the few hotthat the decisions were given in ac- test months, and then they are from cordance with some well-understood 7 A.M. to 11 A.M. There is always a ocular sigual. Another judge had, in considerable crowd lingering round and open court, expressed his disapprobation of the practices of some wealthy native gentlemen who had formed a sort of ring for the purposes of what, in legal parlance, is called "main

about the various offices, long after the courts rise, but it gradually dwindles away, and by sunset the once busy scene has completely changed.

A. D. BOLTON.

From The Speaker.

A HUMBLE BIOGRAPHY.
WE all know that no man is a hero

tenance" and "champerty." Immediately after this he received an anonymous letter of a very threatening character, and, stranger still, he very soon after died in a way mysterious enough to warrant a post-mortem examination being held. The result of the to his valet, but we do not so uniformly examination, I believe, sufficiently ac- know that a valet may be a hero to the counted for the death without justify-man. The man, indeed, requires an ing the uneasiness felt that there had eye for the heroic, and a soul capable been foul play; but the cause of death of appreciating it wherever it may apwas, I understood, a rather unusual pear, whether hidden under plush or one, and the coincidence created a flaunted in armor, muffled in a deferengood deal of suspicion, which to this tial "Yes, sir," or shouted in a chalvery day is not, perhaps, entirely re- lenge round the lists. We know that moved from the minds of some. Byron wanted a hero, and in great straits cried out for one, like beaten yet invincible Richard for a horse; but then Byron was an aristocrat, and so fastidious. Sir Walter had many heroes, for he was no aristocrat, though he now and then affected in his sly and pawky way to admire an idealized aris

Not infrequently one witnesses fierce combats between a couple of ponies in the open ground round the courts. They are in considerable numbers, the properties chiefly of "Muktars" and litigants, and always secured to the trunk or bough of a tree, or to the

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tocracy; but when it came to the bit, before John's unique qualities revealed and the heart of the man was touched, themselves, for he was, as it were, an he found the heroes of real life, as dis- older member of the college than I, tinguished from the airy creations of being, indeed, its first, and for a while his own romance, in Will Laidlaw, who its sole, tenant. There were thus no was a poet and critic as well as factor traditions for him to follow, defining, and amanuensis; in Tom Purdie, who as it were, his duties and dignities; was a man as well as a factotum; and but he knew, as by instinct, that in those others of his people who would greater is he who makes than he who have given their souls for his. only inherits traditions. The first disNow the hero if hero be the proper covery of his peculiar qualities came - of this paper would not have about in a characteristic way. He had satisfied Byron, but he would have de- taken cold, and was confined to his lighted the soul of Scott. He was our room; so, to beguile the tedious days, college porter, but the college was not we sent down to him some of the lighter large, and its porter had to play many magazines. But our invalid had passed parts. Before he attained this position the stage when stories and illustrations he had been in the army, and had could please. So the magazines were there learned the dignity of bearing returned with respectful gratitude and which never forsook him, though dig- the message that copies not in use of nity of mind was too native to him to the Contemporary or Nineteenth Century need to be learned anywhere. He had would be preferred. These were acbeen in the cavalry, and had the con- cordingly despatched instead, and I tempt of the man who rides on horse- soon found that John's speech was as back for the man who walks on foot, the speech of one whose studies ranged and this sense of superiority had been through the higher and abstruser literincreased by seeing how an Irish mobature. Yet it was speech that always which had stood up to the infantry, had a fine military flavor, even when fled helter-skelter before the onset of most literary. When he had any imthe cavalry. He had been an orderly, portant matter to communicate he used too, and knew the ways of officers as to come to the study, carefully close well as of men. And so he brought to his office a quite peculiar distinction of carriage and speech. He had been told, and he considered truly, that he resembled a distinguished member of the House of Lords who had a place in the neighborhood; and when he was once stopped on the road and spoken to as if he were the very lord himself, he regarded it as an incident quite natural in the circumstances, as it were part of the fitness of things. Yet, while he knew what was due to himself, he had a fine consideration for diffidence. If a freshman was very fresh and manifestly overawed or abashed in his presence - which did once or twice happen he would kindly explain that he was no professor, but only a porter. Still, he always believed that the man gave dignity to the office, not the office to the man. And he quite lived up to his faith.

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We had not been long in residence

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the door, stroke his moustache, stand
to attention, and then, as he was fitly
poised, and I duly expectant, he would
solemnly begin. In those days we
were dependent for our water supply
on a spring, and our cisterns were filled
by means of an hydraulic ram.
spring did not always flow, and the
ram did not always work to his or our
satisfaction. After a long drought,
when the spring was low and the sup-
ply inadequate, we had heavy rains,
with results which John announced
thus: "Water enough now,
sir;
rains have permeated the soil and re-
suscitated all the drains to overflow-
ing." But the ram was a constant
trouble, especially in dirty weather.
"Why won't it work?" I once asked,
and was answered, "Why, sir, it is all
corroded with rust, and every time I
visit it I get myself all corroded with
mud." So we had to get rid of the ram,
but John's troubles were not thereby

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66

I like to send them home to my father, that he may know what we are about. He is an old man, but he takes an interest in all my work.” And, indeed, no man ever felt more as if the reputation of the college was his own, and he was as jealous of it as if it were the reputation of the British army. He had in a corner of the grounds a little garden which he had reclaimed and diligently cultivated, and to see him on a summer evening looking down on the lawns, and walks, and buildings, was to have an image of how a certain proud monarch may have looked when he said: "Is not this great Babylon which I have built?" Yet his pride was not the pride of possession, but of service; he gloried as the soldier glories who knows he is not the army, but knows also that it would not be the army he knows without him.

ended. "What are you?" " he was rather heavier than usual, with a large once asked by a saucy student who had representation of the sacred and clasbeen doing some mischief which he sical tongues, John asked, when the had interfered to prevent, and he re-examinations were over, if he might plied with grave dignity, "I am the have a set. "Certainly," ," I said; "but curator appointed to this what for?" conserve " he answered, Oh," building." While doing this work of conservation, I once found him clearing away some snow which had got into the library. "How is this here, Johu?" I asked, and he answered, "Why, sir, there is no part of this building replete." A colleague, who was prone to pedagogic corrections, said, Complete, you mean " but he, with incorrigible dignity, replied, "No, sir; replete." One day when the wind was blowing a hurricane, some one had entered without closing behind him the large door which opened on the main staircase, and the wind went whistling along the passages, shaking the windows and banging the doors. John hastened to shut the wind out, and then turned to ask a little knot of students if any of them had left the door open. "I did," said one. "Well, sir," he answered, "do you not see the wind is perforating the building?" With a tutor who had one night left two boys in a class-room by themselves, where they had had a high time in the manner of boys, he remonstrated next day on the danger of permitting boys

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I found John in the college, and left him there with regret. He very much wanted to go with me, as he said "it had always been his ambition to fill a post in the classical city of Oxbridge,' whither he knew I was bound. But as he could not go, he assured me that it would always be the proudest event of his life that, in however humble — and, indeed, menial -a capacity, he had been for so many years associated with me. He was a man of excellent worth, and he filled his porter's office with as much diguity as any man could fill a soldier's. In the college chapel we had open services every Sunday, and then John, with conspicuous grace, played the part of door-keeper. Years afterwards, when these services had been discontinued, my wife and I were on a visit to our old home, and, of course, saw John. She said she was sorry the services had been given up, and he replied: "Yes, madam, I am very sorry, too; but to have your liberty curtailed and your freedom

He was one of the most trustworthy of men; his integrity was incorruptible; and when left in charge he was as vigilant as a sentry on duty. One of the offices he was entrusted with was the printing of the examination papers, which were taken simply by transfer from a copying pad. Once he complained to me that something had gone wrong, for," ," said he, "I used to be able to take fourteen or fifteen copies from a single impression, but now, when I have taken six or seven, they become quite inaudible." The students, who liked to humor him by apparently anxious questions, knew what he did, and one inquired, "What kind of papers are we to have to-day, John ?" 66 Short, but stiff." On one occasion, when the papers had been abridged for fifty-two days in the year

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