When The Law Is An Ass.

This might be entitled “The Law, the Devil, and an Ass.”

A young English missionary was lately prosecuted here in the Solomons on charges of unlawfully using the cane on a number of his young gentlemen parishioners—such punishment having been suggested to him by his native teachers as fitting chastisement for the old, but ever popular pastime of philandering with the village belles.

But the law was shocked and set its hounds upon the trail. One of them was a native district head-man who was present in court, with a number of witnesses for the prosecution.

On each of three charges, the “culprit” was fined ten shillings— though ten other charges were dis missed on the victims admitting acquiescence as an alternative to being banned from the Church.

It is safe to say that the cost of the whole foolish business to the public purse was not less than £100. Hence the ass!

“Solomonoo.”