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with "a condition and not a theory" in sen tencing a man found guilty of rape. The sentence, the only one which could be imposed under this statute, was "That the defendant be confined at hard labor in the penitentiary at Ft. Madison for a term not to exceed his natural life." HIS SOLEMN OATH A friend interested more or less ac tively in social settlement work sends us the following, with the observation, "Below is a bit of humor which I think your readers would enjoy; it is from life." For the edification of readers who may not be familiar with Boston topography, we may say that Sullivan Square is a name shouted in the subway stations to designate the destination of certain trains, and is therefore familiar to that portion of the populace which cannot read or write :— A man, Isbitzkoy, who knows very little English, was in court the other day as a witness in a certain trial. The next day he came to me, and with a very puzzled air said:— "I wonder why they made me put up my right hand and say, 'I Sullivan Square.'" No amount of explanation could make him see that the street mentioned had nothing to do with the court. ENTERPRISE IN LEGISLATION A prominent popular newspaper has com piled information with regard to some eccen tric bills before the state legislatures. In five states bills have been introduced to tax bachelors, or to place discriminating marks upon those who are shirking the burdens of married life. In other states bounties will be offered for babies if the bills go through. In Delaware it is proposed to tax bachelors and gypsies, both of whom are regarded as unde sirable citizens. In Maine a plan is advocated for a pension fund for spinsters, to be obtained by taxing all bachelors over thirty $10 a year. This bill contains a provision that a bachelor who has made an honest attempt to get a wife by proposing to at least three women, or who has -proposed to one woman three times, shall be exempt from the tax. Conversely, a spinster who can be shown to have capri
ciously refused good offers of marriage is not to be entitled to the benefit of the pension fund. In Illinois State Senator Samuel A. Ettelson, it is said, is framing a bill in which the title of "Mr." is to be reserved for married men, bachelors being called "Master." The object of this is to enable an unmarried woman to learn at first meeting the status of the man, so that she need not have to waste her time. Another sort of thing has been introduced in the Kansas Senate, in the form of an antiaffinity bill. The man with an affinity in Kansas may be sent to the penitentiary for a year or paroled on his good behavior. In Colorado it is proposed to make it a misdemeanor for any one to give, accept, or ask for a tip, except sleeping-car porters. We cannot make out whether the exception is intended in sarcasm or in earnest. A member of the New York Legislature wishes to admit to the Union the new state of Manhattan, consisting of Greater New York, and a Congressman, it is said, is draft ing a bill providing for three Presidents of the United States, one for the East, one for the Middle West and South, and one for the extreme West. YELLOW JOURNALISM At a dinner of the Sphinx Club in London recently, at which the Lord Chief Justice and several of the Judges of the High Court were present, one of the speakers told this amusing story, which we reproduce from the Canada Law Journal:— A London magistrate was leaving his court one day in the dead season of the year, and it was pouring with rain. He was making his way in an omnibus to his club, when, looking out of the window, his eye was attracted by a news sheet, on which he saw his name in enormous capitals, "Mr. Jones on Peace." He was a sensitive person, and he allowed himself to think of what had passed in his court, but he could remember nothing that was not sordid and commonplace. There was what was called a cloud on the horizon, international relations were strained, and everybody was expecting statements from important politicians. He felt, therefore, hot and uncomfortable to see his name connected with peace. When he reached his club he rushed to the file, seized a newspaper, and saw that that morning there had been a quarrel between two sisters over a dead
