Page:Legal Bibliography, Numbers 1 to 12, 1881 to 1890.djvu/101

SOULE'S LEGAL WORDS OF PRAISE. Jones's Index to Legal Periodicals and the new edition of Metcalf on Contracts were published just before this paper was sent to press, and there has not been time to get opinions as to their merits from lawyers or from legal journals : but just before closing up this page two letters came in which will interest our readers. The first is from Hon. EDxMUNd H. Bennett, the well-known author, and Dean of the Boston University School of Law. He writes : " No law writer has stated (and I may say, none can state) the law of contracts more tersely, clearly, and in the main more accurately, than Judge Metcalf. And Mr. Heard's notes to this edition have certainly added to the value of the original work "' The other is from F. P. Deering. Librarian of the San Francisco Law Library. He had been notified of a slight defect in the early copy sent hjm,and answered thus: •■ Let me congratulate you upon the manner in which Jones's Inde.x has been published. It is the most creditable work that I have ever seen issued as a law book. Its usefulness is beyond question. I have received your letter calling attention to an error in paging, but am reluctant to return tliis copy for so trifling a mistake, as the two weeks' absence of the book might be greatly felt." A TUNEFUL BAR. The recent annual dinner of the Boston Bar Association was much like other bar dinners in the eloquence and wit of the post-prandial speeches; but it had one somewhat unusual feature, in the rendition, by a choir of young lawyers, of a number of original songs. The menu was cast in legal form, thus: — HOTEL VENDO.ME Suffolk ss. THE BAR /SSOCIATION SUPERIOR COURT. OP Seventh Session. CITY OF BOSTON. J (Jury waived.) plaintiff's declaration. And the plaintiff says the defendant owes him one hundred dollars, according to the Bill of Particulars hereto annexed, marked A, and made a part of this declaration. By its Attorneys, C. H. Greenleaf & Company. [A.l The Bar Association of the City of Boston, to Hotel Vendome, Dr. To one first-class Dinner, as follows Sioo.oo [Here followed the bill of fare.] defendant's special demurrer to plaintiff's declaration. And now comes the defendant in the above entitled case, and, demurring to the plaintiff's declaration, says that the said declaration and the matters therein contained in the manner and form as the same are stated and set forth are not sufficient in law for the plaintiff to have his action against the defendant, for that the items in the Bill of Particulars annexed to said declaration are not numbered consecutively in accordance with the provisions of chapter 167, section 10, of the Public Statutes. By its Attorney, Henry C. Hutchins. By agreement of parties, demurrer withdrawn on payment of costs by plain- tiff; defendant files general denial, and case set down for trial on its merits, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 18S8, at 6.30 p.m. C H. Greenleaf & Co., Attorneys for Plaintiff. Henry C. Hutchins and others, Attorneys for Defendant. After a practical discussion of the '• Bill of Particulars," the fun of the evening began. Space lacks here for anything but extracts from a few of the songs. The first musical exercise was a section of the Public Statutes set to music as a chant. Then, interspersed among the speeches, came jovial ditties, extracts from which are given below. I sing the praise of juries And Nisi Prius Courts, Where remedy and cure is For every kind of torts ; Where suitors never weary nor Attorneys fail of fees ; Question — (What is this Court to which you refer?) Why, the good old Court Superior, Successor to the Pleas. BIBLIOGRAPHY. 7 CHORUS. If it 's libel, slander, trover. Unless forced to answer over, You '11 demur and block the plaintiff (if you can) ; But if fame you would inherit. Then, to try'it on it.s merit, " Put yourself upon your country " like a man 1 Twelve Justices to it are given, F"our Sessions, and a Clerk, And eight days out of seven Is the limit of its work ; By a pleasing legal fiction, Of a legislative birth. Its exclusive jurisdiction Question — (Is what .- ) Is the universal earth. Chorus. It's inclusive, from a bailment To an equitable bill ; From a dog-bite to an ailment, Where a railroad fails to kill ; From a plighted troth contracted To the warrant of a horse, And — at length has been enacted, Question — ( Well — what else ? ) " Jurisdiction in Divorce." Chants. Come, lawyers all, and listen to a tale I would unfurl ; 'Tis all about a nice young man, also a nice young girl. He long had loved her faithfully, she was his guiding star ; " We 'II wed," she said, " as soon as you 're admitted to the bar ' CHORUS. Now all young men about to wed, find out just where you are. Before you seek admission to the Massachusetts Bar. Forthwith to Harvard Square he hied unto the school of law ; And there he toiled for three long years, and eke for one year m irs. Commencement Day, it came at last, and then he cried, " Ha, H i, This LL.B. you soon will see admitted to the bar." Chorus. But just about this time he learned, and great was his distress. That what had taken so much time might have been done in t%i-. He found, alas! his Mary Ann had distanced him by far, -And was in active practice at the Massachusetts Bar. Chorus. As soon as I put my shingle out I waited for many a day To try and rope some client in who 'd ask my advice, and I'ay ; But tire few who came were ever the same, for with malice and evil intent They would take the advice and pronounce it wise, but never would pay a cent. At length I had an "accident " case. An humble client came. Supporting himself with the aid of a crutch ; he v,as seedy an gaunt and lame : He said the machinery in a mill had broken his ribs and leg. And now he was forced to give up work, and was even compellc 1 • 3 beg. I sued the corporation, and the jury were solid for me ; I recovered a handsome verdict, too, which just about paid my ft So, in dealing with corporations, if you have a chance to sue 'er . Be sure and apply unsparingly the maxim, " Soc ct tuuin ! " I 'd heard that Webster, or that Choate, Would cheer young lawyers on By saying there was "room on top," When once that height was won. I sometimes thought me almost there, With laurels on my brow ; But I have n't — have n't — Have n't for a long time now. And proudly through the streets I 'd bear My verdant bag of baize. With newspapers or luncheon stuffed, Hid from the public gaze. Methought the people would exclaim, " A rising man, I vow ! " But they have n't — have n't — Have' n't for a long time now. Upon the sidewalk's breezy edge Full oft I 'd stand and wait. While chance acquaintance in my ears His legal doubts would state. Opinions . I would give. With care and studious brow; But I have n't — have n't — Have n't for a long time now.