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A LEGAL MENU. BY ROBERT P. CLAPP. Written for the Second Dinner of the bar Association of the County of Middlesex, Massachusetts, December 5, 1900.
PERHAPS you are accustomed all, dear brethren of the Bar, To quench your thirst with cooling drinks at Thompson's busy Spa; But at our Annual Dinner, where Wit and Wisdom shine, T were sacrilegious not to. take a glass of golden wine. And so we have provided here, as soon you may discern, Not only some old Sherry Pale, but also flaute Sautcrnc. Of these drink very lightly, please; just taste the Mumm that's dry; Act now with prudence, and a case you may to-morrow try.
By order of the Court we file a bill of items true, So as to jaded appetites to give the proper cue. Each course, the best that Young's affords, will bring to all delight. The Menu that is printed here is almost "out of sight" If one shall think the courses few, or void of interest. And criticise at all our work in making up the list, For answer let us cite a fact to which we point with pride— There's nothing on our short-list here not ready to be tried! I.
Yet should the Ponfry give one cause to feel a trifle queer, Or make a little boisterous fun, contempt he needn't fear; The Court is surely with us now. and all may plainly see Resolves and acts are both to-night coram non judice.
A cause of scire facias is what we're first to try, And all the statement that's required to show the reason why (Reflect that each will eat and drink what costs a good round Five) Is that a dinner such as this the judgment will revive.
A fact by all admitted is, no dinner's started right, Unless begun with that which gives a zest to appetite; And nothing will this purpose .serve, or do it quite so well, As half-a-dozen Oysters Raw, all ready on the shell. II. See Consomme Imperial against Green Turtle Soup, A case quite often cited here, and yet not found in Throop. The dicta, too, are quite in point; compare, and 't will be seen That there, as in the case at bar, were Olives called the Queen.
