ging
in sharp practice. The minister was surprised to meet there two other
members of his flock whose relations with the solicitor were not at the
time known to be friendly or otherwise. In course of conversation the
solicitor, alluding to some disputed point, appealed to the minister:
"Doctor, these are members of your flock; may I ask whether you look on
them as black or as white sheep?"--"I don't know," answered the
minister, "whether they are black or white sheep; but this I know, that
if they are long here they are pretty sure to be _fleeced_."

_Apropos_ of this story is the one of a Scottish countrywoman who
applied to a respectable solicitor for advice. After detailing all the
circumstances of the case, she was asked if she had stated the facts
exactly as they had occurred. "Ou ay, sir," rejoined the applicant; "I
thought it best to tell you the plain truth; you can put the lees till't
yoursel'."

* * * * *

THE LAWYER'S TOAST

At a dinner of a Scots Law Society, the president called upon an old
solicitor present to give as a toast the person whom he considered the
best friend of the profession. "Then," said the gentleman very slyly,
"I'll give you 'The Man who makes his own will.'"

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE AMERICAN BENCH & BAR

"Going tew law is like skinning a new milch cow for the hide
and giving the meat tew the lawyers."

JOSH BILLINGS.

"Oh, sir, you understand a conscience, but not law."

MASSINGER: _The Old Law_.

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE AMERICAN BENCH & BAR

The Rev. H. R. Haweis has defined "humour as the electric atmosphere,
wit as the flash. A situation provides atmospheric humour, and with the
culminating point of it comes the flash." This definition is peculiarly
applicable to the humour of the Bench and Bar when the situation
invariably provides the atmosphere for the wit. Not less so is this the
case in American Courts than in British. Before Chief Justice Parsons
was raised to the Bench, and when he was the leading lawyer of America,
a client wrote, stating a case, requesting his opinion upon it, and
enclosing twenty dollars. After the lapse of some time, receiving no
answer, he wrote a second letter, informing him of his first
communication. Parsons replied that he had received both letters, had
examined the case and formed his opinion, but somehow or other "it stuck
in his throat." The client understood this hint