' THE original manuscript of Magna Charta was rescued by Sir Robert Cotton from a tailor who was on the point of cutting if up for measures. IN view of the multitude of cases now reported, we think the profession will agree that what is needed is some definite responsible head who shall be able and powerful enough to say that this or that case shall or shall not be reported; some one in fact to stand between those who wish their cases to be reported and the unfortunate lawyers who have to read them. Our volumes of Reports could be cut down at least one half and be all the better for the process. OUR countrymen of America, as might be ex pected from their quick, nervous temperament, with their famous proclivities for " money-making." ilead the world in the time devoted to business pursuits, during a given year, as fixed by statute law, with the exception of the Dutch and Hunga rians. The Dutch Statute gives the people but five legal secular days for pleasure, making their work days 308. The poor Hungarians get but one of the world's secular days, and work the greatest number of days during the year of any nation. The inhabitants of Central Russia labor the least number of days per annum; the same being 267. Our neighbors across the St. Lawrence, who get their taste for " taking things easy " from the " Old Country," in exchange for the privilege of certain contributions to the exchequer of her Majesty's government, which they are annually permitted to make, come next in order of leisure-loving folks, with 270 days, during which they pay the penalty fixed by the Archangel of God, when man was driven in disgrace from Eden, with his feminine partner a particeps ci ¡minis, whose weak curiosity led them both into evil. England and Scotland are, as one might natu rally expect, satisfied with a less number of working days, and a corresponding greater number of days on which they neither " toil nor spin. They get in about 275 days of hard work during the year, providing they keep the Fourth Commandment and do not work holidays, which no sane English man will. The Portuguese follow with 283 days, and Rus sian Poland with 288.
The land of Cervantes and " Don Quixote," weak-kneed, proverbially, as she is in all govern mental policy, shows a stronger grasp on the idea of " what makes the world go round," in modern times at least; and according to her proverb, " The foot of the owner is manure for his land." So if the ease-loving Spaniard works at all, according to his statutory year he will " tread his winepress" 290 days, to round up the full measure of the- legal year. The Austrians, " bearded " or clean-shaven, and the people of the Baltic Provinces owing fealty to the Czar, are satisfied to labor 295 of the 365 days of man's thraldom. Italy, fair, enchanting land of imagination, — who would think to find here a craze for sordid greed and earthy existence? a people whose character comes from such moulds of sentiment as, "It is better to be without food than without honor." and also " Little wealth, little care." Modern practicality requires even " the noblest Roman of them all " to tread the wine-press of life 298 of th<; 365 diurnal revolutions of time, if he wishes to be credited with the full statutory time. These require 300 days to satisfy the law : Ba varia, Belgium, Brazil, and Luxembourg. " No blesse oblige," says le bonne Frenchman. If any reference is intended herein to those duties gen erally regarded as pertaining to business relations with his fellows, then our frog-loving neighbor must attend to such obligation some time within the 302 days allowed by law, or Code de la France. As to the other days, particularly as they are spent within "the world's gayest capital," to use a Frenchman's words, " All that time is lost which might be better spent." Saxony, Finland, Wurtemberg, Switzerland, Den mark, and Norway agree with the French notion, or rather English, that "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy;" so 302 days is con sidered enough to make a year's work. Sweden adds two more to her " time for work," and 304 days fill the statutory requirement. •' Bes ser ohne abendessen zu Bette gehen, als mit Schulden aufstehen,' says the thrifty hard-workmg German; and he soon learns the force of his "Geld regiert die Welt," and so 305 days he labors in his youth to gain the repose of old age. Ireland, last, but not least, — the witty, but emer ald Irishman, •—• man of inconsistent virtues, it is safe to say that he is not responsible for being
