make its decisions valid certain elections or appointments were necessary, and these were obtained as the exigencies of the times seemed to require. It was not until several years later that all the municipal officers were put upon a salary basis; nor until the offices of sheriff, tax-collector, and the like were estimated as worth to the occupant forty thousand dollars per annum. These tempting baits were the source of great evils, both in the manner of obtaining office, and in the execution of its duties.
Behold now the mercantile grub transformed to winged justice. All hail to the rising sun ! Money and merriment were the prominent characteristics of this tribunal. As a matter of course the mill must grind steadily, and with tolerable fairness; otherwise the institution would acquire an evil reputation, which, like a gambling-shop famous for its cheating, would repel litigants, and with them their dollars. There was no harm, however, in having it thoroughly understood that in this court time was money. This was no less a desirable feature with suitors than with the judges; those were busy days, and no one wished to wrangle long over a few hundred dollars, when probably they could make twice the amount during the same time by attending to their legitimate business. Money was the burden of Judge Almond's sittings; no criminal cases were allowed. Ounces were the sharp-edged Al Sirat which should bridge the infelicities of law to the heaven of rest beyond.
Seated sidewise by the comer of a table, exposing a profile view of a sharp-featured decisive face, grown somewhat stern by reason of its owner's elevation, and thin, perhaps from care and new responsibility; seated in the favorite American posture, balancing his tipped-back chair with feet planted against the wall higher than his head, paring his finger-nails, which seemed to grow according to the volume of business presented before the court, Judge Almond was prepared to listen to all who should come to him. And
