DAMAGES
The conversation turned to the subject of damage-suits, and this anecdote was recalled by Senator George Sutherland, of Utah.
A man in a Western town was hurt in a railroad accident, and after being confined to his home for several weeks he appeared on the street walking with the aid of crutches.
"Hello, old fellow," greeted an acquaintance, rushing up to shake his hand. "I am certainly glad to see you around again."
"Thanks," responded the injured one. "I am glad to be around again."
"I see you are hanging fast to your crutches," observed the acquaintance. "Can't you do without them?"
"My doctor says I can," answered the injured party, "but my lawyer says I can't."
"I have come here," said the angry man to the superintendent of the street-car line, "to get justice; justice, sir. Yesterday, as my wife was getting off one of your cars, the conductor stept on her dress and tore a yard of frilling off the skirt."
The superintendent remained cool.
"Well, sir," he said, "I don't know that we are to blame for that. What do you expect us to do? Get her a new dress?"
"No, sir. I do not intend to let you off so easily as that," the other man replied gruffly. He brandished in his right hand a small piece of silk.
"What I propose to have you do," he said, "is to match this silk."