The Strand Magazine - Vol. 1 - No. 5 - May 1891

hy was her heart beating? Why did she hasten with such trembling steps to her own cabin, without da

She was very pale; it seemed as if she felt repentance. Her forehead fell upon the pillow, and at i

d toils, and yet, as if he had not care enough already, I must give him this care more. Is that he? No, nothing. I have done wrong-he would do quite right

cold, unconscious of all outward sounds, of the black cormor

ng entered, and the fisherman, dragging his dripping net, appeared u

her husband like a lover, and presse

the firelight the good-natured and co

unlucky," h

f weather ha

ead

he fis

ll, I have only torn my net. The deuce was in the wind to-night. At one moment of the tempest I t

shiver in t

usual. I have been sewing. I have been listening

s a hard time. But

if she were going

ent out. She has left two little children, one called William and the other Madeline. The bo

eep for me. Why has He taken away their mother from these mites? These matters are too difficult to understand. One has to be a scholar to see through them. Such tiny scraps of children! Wife, go and fetch them. If they are awake, they must be frightened to be alone with their dead mother. We will bring them up with ours

rew back t

!" sh

of the L

COUNTY

OURT

e State, the expenses of the County Court are mostly covered by the fees extorted from suitors: while there is common complaint (which we by no means endorse) that there are not enough High Court judges, it is impossible to deny that, having regard to the amount of work they perform, there are too many for the County Court. Whatever the defects of the County Court may be, it is essentially a popular tribunal. It is interesting from many points of view, and not more so to the legal student than to the student of human nature. Probably nowhere are more curious and varied types of humanity to be observed than t

give a decision as to the fit of three elegant gowns supplied to an actress and her two sisters. It is a curious fact that the most amusing cases in the County Court are usually those in which members of the fair sex are engaged. Ladies, as a rule, seem unable to appreciate the laws of evidence, and when in the witness-box often take the opportunity to indulge in family reminiscences, and to pile satirical obloquy on their opponents. The judges (who, when the parties to a suit are without professional assistance, examine the witnesses themselves) have great difficulty in keeping them to the point, and nothing but the fear of being committed for contem

MIS

ng to Blackstone, by Alfred the Great. Mr. Pitt Lewis, in his most valuable work on County Court practice, remarks that the origin of the County Court is to be traced in the Folkmote, the gathering of the people, of Anglo-

coroners, proclamations of outlawry, and "consultation and direction concerning the ordering of the county for the safety and peace thereof." It exercised jurisdiction in ecclesiastical suits, and appellate jurisdiction in certain criminal cases; it was empowered to try all civil cases where the amount in dispute did not exceed forty shillings (a large sum in those days

OR AND

e predecessors of our present judges of assize. It appears, however, that the new arrangement did not work very well. There were numerous complaints of delay and expense that prevented suitors from obtaining justice. So, to meet this diff

rs. While retaining part of its ancient jurisdiction in common law, its powers have been al

s for wrongs where the amount claimed does not exceed ￡50. To this general rule, ho

pay the plaintiff's costs. Cases to the amount of ￡1,000 are remitted to it from the Court of Admiralty, besides which it exercises jurisdiction in numerous special cases under various Acts, including the Married Women's Property Act, the Coal Mines Regulation Act, the Building Societies Act, the Friendly Societies Act, the Employers and Wo

CALLED-OUTSI

istricts are divided into circuits, which are distributed among the County Court judges,

provincial towns, have a great deal, though not by an

Courts in some provincial districts where the judges have so little to do that their office is almost a sinecure. In either case

fees, but now they draw fixed sal

nd to hold a sitting once a month, except in September, which month is a holiday. In many of the little villages that they have to needlessly visit, the opening

ar, and in some cases the sittings were less than a hundred. A large proportion of these sittings, too, were me

wn district, he is actually contributing towards the means by which judges in other parts of the country enjoy idleness with dignity, and ￡1,

mpetent lawyers. Unlike the appointment of judges of the High Court, with which, as a rule, little fault can be found, many County Cou

cation than is required by a young student for a call to the bar, and these are the men who have to weigh the arguments of able counsel in complicated Admiralty and Employers' Liability cases. The Lord Chancellor, it is true, has power to remove any judge on account of inability or misbehaviour. This, however, is an extreme measure hardly ever enforced, and it is

to retire, and out of the multitude of briefless barristers a deputy can be obtained for a very small sum. Indeed, there have often been scandalous instances of a judge retaining his salary while paying a deputy ￡200 a year or so to do his work. This was at one time so common, and the men appointed were often so grossly incompetent, that it was found desirable that

s of the Registrar, who must be a solicitor of five years' standing, are multifarious, and include the hearing of Bankruptcy cases and undefended suits. The office of Registrar will in future include that of High Bailiff, for the last-named functionary is by the Act of 1888 to be allowed to die out, that

mportance, and involving as difficult legal questions, as the bulk of those tried in the High Court. In other words, legislation has imposed upon the County Court the sam

ralty cases, and a variety of other legal work requiring the highest judicial capacity can now be tried in the County Court. And yet,

present time entering an action for ￡51 in the High Court will be subjected to a delay of at least twelve months; whereas if he sues for ￡49 in the County Court, even in a busy district, he may reasonably expect to have his case settled within a month. By a reorganisation of the County Court system, properly distributing the work among th

Court. Six thousand five hundred and fifty-four debtors were actually imprisoned in 1889. There were no less than 213,831 judgment summonses, and 63,836 warrants of commitment issued. It is a somewhat melancholy fact that the num

GHT CHILDREN

ion are very rarely committed. Nearly all the imprisoned debtors are very poor persons, and the amounts that they owe are very small, the average not exceeding ￡10. It is melancholy to

rform these duties in a very perfunctory manner. In illustration of this it may be mentioned that in the year 1889, while one judge heard 2

R DEF

since the liability to pay was incurred. The latter provision permits the monstrous injustice that because six months ago a man had money that he was obl

olished altogether. The State has to keep the imprisoned debtor, whose wife per

tainly be more careful in giving credit, and a correspon

ould be administered that it should be paid for by the litigants. This was the view expressed by the County Court Commissioners, but no effect has been given to their opinion. There is no reas

SING T

nt County Court system. Its greatest merit lies in the rapidity with which its business

economised on busy circuits, and more work given to those judges who have little or nothing to do. In these days of facile railway communication many of the

ch other, and all of them on a good line of railway. Obviously much time would be saved if one central Court

d at once be reduced from one shilling to sixpence in the pound, and for hearing from two shillings to one shilling. It is scandalous that the cost of process is greater in the County Court than in the High Court, and the State undoubtedly ought to contribute towards the maintenance of the County Court in the same proportion as it provides for the High

NES

s Daughter

kish War: from the Ge

lations with the House of Austria, took advantage of this opportunity to conclude a fresh treaty with the Emperor Leopold, which allowed him to send into their

iately sent an army of 20,000 men into the already overburdened principality. One of the Turkish generals, Ibrahim Pasha, was encamped on the other side of Tokan. The troops under his command were a mixed lot of Turks, Tartars, A

as seated in Turkish fashion with his legs crossed under him, and was now and then puffing a cloud of bluish smoke from his chibouque, when suddenly a band of Tartars burst into the general's pres

ING ALONG A COUP

ood before the Pasha, bowing obsequiously and with his hands folded

Pasha, "what do you bring m

of trying to steal two of the finest horses grazing outside the camp; and that he had brou

aid the Pasha, with the utmost c

mbled. The tall sheepskin hat which he wore tumbled to the ground, and one of the troop stooped to pick it up, in order to replace it on the prisoner's head. Suddenly, however, the man was seen to stop and to fumble about the rim of the head-dress. The Pasha noticed the momentary pause and the man's half-puzzled look, and asked what was the meaning of it. It turned out that behind the linin

e!" exclaimed the Pasha, as with sparkling eyes he gazed at the fair

ORTRAIT

rugged his shoulders. The younger alternately glanced at

" again shouted the Pas

own," said the elder prisoner, "speak, Pet

r of Seiburg. The portrait was hers, and so exact and lifelike was it that a mirror could scarcely have more faithfully reflected her features. He had h

from here?" aske

y," exclaimed both father

for a few moments, an

m willing to give you your lives, and I will richly reward y

and trusty men, and, as certainly as my name is Joan Komanitza, I promise that the

him carefully to select twenty of the strongest and most trustworthy men of h

nce that Katarina, the daughter of Lucas Sydonius, pastor of

s health was the reason why Katarina had not long since sought a refuge within the fortified walls of Hermannstadt or of Kronstadt. Half Seiburg had fled at the approach of the drea

t for Hermannstadt to rejoin her father, whom, eight days before, the authorities had called t

on of a councillor of Hermannstadt, called Johannes Brenkner: Katarina was his affianced bride, and P

yourself because we are forced to leave our peace

ffect. Her own eyes were full of tears, and the trembling voice in which she u

that Teleki has fallen, and that the Imperial General Henzler has been taken prisoner by the Turks; but for all that

IN THE

lmost immediately followed by a confused noise, which soon increased to a deafening roar. The servants of the manse all h

rom their surprise there appeared at the open door the figure of a youn

he little beauty! Upon my soul, she looks so like the Holy Paraskiva in

y a tremendous blow full in the face, which staggered him, and sent him reeling to the ground. It was Matthias who struck the blow in defence of his affianced bride; but, in revenge, Petru dealt Katarina's champion so heavy a stroke from behind with hi

arns in order to prevent the peasants still remaining in Seiburg from coming to the aid of the Pastor's family. It wa

eld Katarina trembling and half dead with terror before him on the saddle, did not leave his horse's back. Old Joan Kumanitza served as his guide. Meanwhile, t

D KATARINA O

charcoal-burner, as he rode up to the doo

fe Ravecca has for many years live

his storm has passed. The room in your hut, I see, is scanty enough, but it is large enough to shelter one woman

e called his wife to take charge of the

ed him. Katarina's violent fit of trembling, consequent on her excessive agitation, and the cold downpour of rain, had not been unnoticed by him. It made him feel excee

brook which flowed behind Nikou's hut, and which the day before they had passed with perfect

iently of the charcoal-burner, "before we

abate towards midday to-morrow, or to

vents start as soon as the weather begins to clear u

e door behind him, than his wife rushed up to him, a

THE

here lies the daughter o

"it is the daughter of the Saxon pastor,

her, and seized her hand, which she covered with tears and kisses as she cried, in a low tone: "My little flower-the apple of my eye! Is it you? Have

ul old woman seemed to awaken the girl to a sense of her danger. Flinging her arms around the neck of the kind-hearted Walla

lose by the hearth; he had buried his fac

s of saving the child, Ni

; I can s

shrewd man, and you have never closed your eyes

med lost

ay of saving the child, but it is a fearful venture, and if the Alm

speak;" cried Katarina, i

oached the

you, young lady, listen to me; but

ainted with the locality can possibly find. About the middle of this main road there branches off another pathway which is some forty yards long and leads to an island of firm soil in the midst of the quaking bog. These footpaths, however, are very narrow, and woe betide the unhappy creature who chances to step but half a foot on either side-he is lost-irrevocably lost. This island, in the middle of the morass, our brethren chose for their home, and thus they dwelled in peace. My father, and my gra

solution, "a thousand times sooner would I die

he, with a loud voice, "I have just thought of a road w

them eagerly exclaimed.

T WALKED

your way. There is, moreover, the danger that you may be set upon by the infuriated Saxons. If you like, I will show you a short cut well known to myself, and to but very few besid

ce to be our gui

t your horses, and by the time you

in followed them with Katarina, and a few more Tartars brought up the rear. Silently the men rode through the darkness of the night; it was still raining, though the violence of the storm had spent itself. Ravecca was kneeling dow

Nikou turned and cried to those who followed him: "Now, men, take care of yourselves. We

The hoofs of the terrified horses sank deep into the mire, and it required all the dexterity of the riders to induce

and the pastor's daughter. And now at length they had without mischance reached the spot where, according to Nikou's description, the second path branched off to the island. Ju

his fall. "Don't stir for your lives! And you behind there! You,

ARED INTO T

old man came along to the rear cautiously, clinging to the manes of the horses and the stirrup straps of the men. When he reached Petru,

he greatest terror, "look there, there!" And he poi

ed in a moment, and Nikou, plucking his knife from his girdle, plunged the blade into the flank of Hussein's horse. The animal reared with the pai

f the Tartars, and the dismay and confusion which now followed, baffle description; but in the midst of the universal uproar the voice of Petru was heard crying out, "T

pathway, and rider and steed were sucked down into the quaking bog. But Katarina heard nothing of the yells of agony and despair of the death-doomed men; she was lying senseless in the strong arms of Nikou, who, with steady tread, a

seemed to struggle from her breast. Suddenly in the far distance he heard the sound of a shepherd's horn. Nearer and nearer came the notes, to which the old man listened with something like feelings of rap

round, while Katarina, who had meanwhile reco

cried the councillor's son

alive?" cried the girl convulsiv

Ravecca came up just as I was setting out to search for you. She sent us here to the morass. Only four of the wretched Tartars have fallen into

and under Nikou's guidance the party

few days Louis of Baden came up with aid from the emperor, and

d that neither Nikou nor his good wife Ravecca were wanting at the wedding feast. Nikou was no longer now a poor neglected charcoal-burner in the lonely woods. The wealthy father of Matthias bought him a comfort

ria Cross: Told by T

te W.

ft. We are here able to give the narratives of two soldiers who gained their Cross for bra

and were making their way towards us at Rorke's Drift. We at once set to work, and with such material as we had at hand formed a slight barricade around us; this was formed of sacks of mealies

DEFENDING THE

k and passing them into the barricade through a small window, while myself (William Jones) and my comrade (Robert Jones) contended each door at the point of the bayonet, our ammunition being expended. The Zulus, finding they could not force us from the doors, now set fire to the thatched roof. This was the most horrifying time. What with the blood-thirsty yells of the Zulus, the cries of the sick that remained, and the burning thatch falling about our heads, it was sickening. Still we kept them at bay un

e Henr

r Lieutenant Bromhead, was stationed at Rorke's Drift, to guard t

strapped round his breast; the other had his coat and hat on. They stopped for a moment and told me that the whole force on the other side of the river had been cut up, and that the Zulus were coming on in great force. They then rode off. I immediately ran to the camp close by and related what I had heard. We were at once fallen

ifles. I began to fire when they were 600 yards distant. I managed to clip several of them, for I had an excellent rifle, and was a "marksman." I recollect particularly one Zulu. He was about 400 yards off, and was running from one anthill to another. As he was running from cover to cover, I fired at him; my bullet caught him in the body, and he made a complete somersault. Another man was lying below an anthill, about 300 yards off, popping his head out now and again to fire. I took careful aim, but my bullet went just over his head. I then lo

me from another room with a bullet wound in the arm. I tied it up. Then John Williams came in from another room, and made a hole in the partition, through which he helped the sick and wounded men. Whilst he was doing this, the Zulus beat in the door, and tried to enter. I stood at the side, and shot and bayoneted several-I could not tell how many, but there were four or five lying dead at my feet. They threw assegais continually, but only one touched me, and that inflicted a scalp wound which I did not think worth reporting; in fact, I did not feel the wound at the time. One Zulu seize

S BEAT IN

SEVERE S

ey would rally and come on again. About 3 a.m. day began to break, and the Zulus retreated. A party, of which I was one, then volunteered to go across to the hospital, where there was a water cart, and bring it in to the inner enclosure, where there was no water, and the wounded were crying for it. When the sun rose we found the Zulus had disappeared. We then went out to search for our missing comrades. I saw one man kneeling behind the outer defences with his rifle to his shoulder, and resting on the parapet as if he were taking aim; I touched him on the shoulder, asking him why he didn't come inside, but he fell over, and I saw he was dead. I saw several others of our dead ripped open and otherwise mutilated. Going beyond the outer defences I went, as I have said before, whither I had killed the man at whom I had fired three shots fro

OUDANEE DEAD

braces down. I wanted to put on my coat before appearing in front of the General, but I was told to come along at once, and I felt rather nervous at leaving in such a state, and thought I

Thomas

on which gained him, the sole survivor of thre

of us three that was wounded was the sailor, who received a spear wound in the abdomen, and fell under the gun. I then saw two Soudanees making for me, and I put my bayonet through them both. Lieutenant Almack was then standing on my right, with his sword in hand, and his revolver in his left. He then rushed on one of the Soudanees, and ran his sword through him. Before he had time to recover, his right arm w

hat morning, and I am heartily sorry for his losing his life; but he lost it bravely. I tried all in

hanted

xandre

For Ch

an age to be married, he caused a proclamation to be made by sound of trumpet and by placards on all the walls of h

a golden apple, and whoever succeeded in catching it would then have to resolve three problems,

into the air, but not one of the first three who caught it was able to complete t

e fourth time, fell into the hands of a young shepherd, who was the h

olve-certainly as difficult as a

ding them out to feed upon the meadow where the meeting was being held, the next morning, and

erd, he asked to be allowed a day to reflect upon

o just to the King tha

orest, to meditate there on the mean

ide a brook, when he came upon a little old woman with snow-white

erd replied, sh

tance to me, and yet I greatly de

ttle old woman; "tell me all about your trouble, and p

s so heavy that he needed no

old woman; "in that case you

pocket an ivory whis

herd, thinking that it needed to be blown in a particular way, turne

HER POCKET AN

regarded as a good genie, he went next

me in search of the hares t

g rose, and said to his

ares turned out

m; but the first was already far away when the last was set at liberty; so

tue of his whistle. However, he had no other resource, and plac

WITH ALL

forth a sharp and

m before him and behind him-from all sides, in fact-leapt the hu

the young shepherd had probably

d on the matter w

problems as well as he had with the first, the Princess would become the wife

said the Princess to her fath

uch a way as to render herself unrecognisable; then she had a h

were frisking jo

of your hares?" aske

for all the gold in the world," replie

ce?" asked t

se and sitting by me on the g

o other means of obtaining the hare, she descended to

TED HERSELF BY TH

s leaped and bou

herd said a hundred tender things to her, she rose and claimed

et which she carried at the bow of her

tle to his lips and blew into it; and, at this imperative call, the hare forced up the l

im, mounted on a donkey. It was the old King, also disguised, wh

ng from the do

f your hares?" he asked

e," replied the shepherd;

one do to

considered

times the tail of y

not budge from the terms he had named. At last the King, who held absolutely to getting possession of one of the hares, submitted to the conditions, humiliating as they were for a king. Three t

KISSED THE TAI

his bag, and rode away at th

d in the air, on hearing which the hare nibbled at the bag so vigorously

incess, on seeing the K

obstinate fellow, who refused to sell me one of his hares at any price. But don't distress

under which he had for a moment had possession of one of his hares, nor

"I could not induce him to part with one

before the King; there was not one more or one less. They were given ba

he Kin

he second now remains to be accomplis

listened with

and one hundred measures of lentils; lentils and peas are mixed together; if you succeed

t," replied the

r, who conducted the young man up to the granar

, there was no time to be lost, the shepherd put h

ork separating the lentils from the peas, and never

, beheld the work accomplished. He tried to raise ob

d's success in the other two trials, he found to be not very hopeful. However

ingle night, eat the whole week's bread, which is stored there. If to-morrow morning

bread-room of the palace, which was so full of bread that

s whistle. In a moment ten thousand mice fell to gnawing at the bread in su

ed at the door with all h

en the door, pleas

victoriously accomplishe

g tried hard to get o

called a good number of his courtiers about him, said: "Tell us as many fals

hink of; but the day was half spent and he was at the en

the Princess came to me disguised as a peasant, an

t been able to close his mouth, became as red as a cherry; so much so that the

have just dropped a very big falseho

ed as a peasant and mounted on a donkey. His Majesty also came to buy one of my hares; seeing, then

he sack is full." A week later, the

ACK IS

riber'

start of the series)

ar, and typographical

tion no

n-standard spellings