LEGAL MAXIMS.
(Suggestions for alteration and adaptation to Modern Manners and Customs, after the Jackson decision by the Court of Appeal.)
Common Law.—"The tradition of ages shall prevail," save when it runs counter to the opinions of a leader-writer of a daily paper.
Equity.—(1). "No right shall be without a remedy," save when it is sentimentally suggested that somebody's right may be somebody else's wrong.
(2.) "Equity follows the law," at such a distance that it never comes up with it.
(3.) "Equity is equality," save when a man's wife is literally his better half.
(4.) "Where there is equal equity the law must prevail," in any view it pleases to take at the instance of the Lord Chancellor for the time being.
(5.) "Where the equities are equal the law prevails," in any course it likes to pursue.
(6.) "Equity looks upon that as done which is agreed to be done," especially when, after obtaining legal relief, the suitor ultimately finds himself sold.
Contracts.—(1.) "All contracts are construed according to the intentions of the parties," save where one of them subsequently changes his mind.
(2.) "The construction should be liberal" enough to suit the fancy of the Judge who enforces it.
(3.) "It should be favourable" to a long and angry correspondence in all the principal newspapers.
(4) "The contract should in general be construed according to the law of the country where made," but certainly not in particular.
(5.) "That testimony cannot be given to vary, but may to explain a written contract," save when someone suggests that this practice shall be reversed.
(6.) "He who employs an agent does it himself," unless it is considered advisable to take an opposite view of the matter.
Parent and Child.—"A father shall have the custody of his children," except when they get beyond his control and defy his authority.
Landlord and Tenant.—"A landlord has a right to receive his rent," if the tenant does not spend the money on something else.
Husband and Wife.—"A man has a right to the society of his wife." when she does not prefer to give her company elsewhere.
Birthright of an Englishman. (Popular traditionally but strictly speaking supplementary.)—"An Englishman's house is his castle," but only the pied à terre of the lawfully wedded sharer of his income.
OLD FATHER ANTIC.
QUEER QUERIES.—CLIMATE OF THE BRITISH ISLES.—As the Gulf Stream produces such an effect on the English climate, would it not be feasible to add to the heat of the water in some way—say, by erecting powerful furnaces somewhere on the south coast of Florida, or by turning the lava from a volcano in the neighbourhood of the Gulf into the sea? I am not a man of science, but I should be glad to hear your opinion of the scheme.—SUFFERER FROM COLD.
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