Expensive Benevolence

There is a venerable and benevolent judge in Paris who at the moment of passing senteuce on a prisoner consults his assessors on each side of him as to the proper penalty to be iuflicted. "What ought we to give this rascal, brother?" he says, bending over to the assessor on the right. "I should say three years." "What is your opinión, brother?" to the assessor on the left. ' 'I should give him about four years. ' ' The judge, with beuevolence: "Prisoner, not desiring to give you a long and severe term of imprisonment, as I should havo done if left to myself, I have consulted my learned brethren and shall take thoir advice. Seven years. "