A Legal Anecdote

In the early days of Yermont's juriprudence thestrict decorum which now very geuerally distinguishes the New Euglaud bar, was comparatively unknown. Nothing was inore conimon than sharp altercatiocs between the bench snd the bar; such wranglings indeed, as would now be termed " contempt of court," were they to occur ouly between thu lawyers themselves. Od one occasion Judge Turner, wbo was tben plaiu " Esrjuirc,1' bad a'Jdressed a ound argument to the court and sat down. Tho Judge, who cbose to argne the queton rathor than decido it at once, replied in a fcehle argutnent, wliicli tiie lawyer in bis turn demolisbed. The Judge rejoined by repcatiug without any material variation, bis ürst icply, and then " closed tho pleadings" by an adverse decisión. " Your Honor's two argumenta," eaid Turner, addressitig bimeelf partly to the court and partly to tbo b:n-, " retnind me of a story. A foolish old woman in Gonnecticut, beiutf one eveniug at a party, was greatly at a loss for soraething to say. At length she ventureii to inquire of a gentleman who sat uear hor whether bis motber bad any children. Tho genümnan politely poiuted out the absuidity of her inquiry. ' I beg pardon,' exelahned the old lady, perciiving her inistake, ' yoj don't understand me; I meaot to inquire whcther your qrandmother had acv cbildren." '