of
Common Sense. They were charged with publishing all the absurdities in
the four gospels, and in especial with stating that a certain young Jew
was God Almighty himself. After the citation and examination of
many witnesses, Mr. Smart, Q.C., urged upon the jury that there was
absolutely no evidence against the prisoners. It was perfectly clear
that they were not the authors of the libels; their names had been used
without their knowledge or sanction; and he confidently appealed to
the jury for a verdict of Not Guilty. "After a brief consultation,"
concluded this clever skit, "the jury, who had carefully examined the
documents, were of opinion that there was nothing to prove that the
prisoners wrote the libels complained of. A verdict of acquittal was
accordingly entered, and the prisoners were discharged."

Now, every person acquainted with Biblical criticism knows that Mr.
Wheeler simply put the conclusions of nearly all reputable scholars in a
bright, satirical way; and a century hence people will be astonished to
learn that such a piece of defensible irony, every line of which might
be justified by tons of learning, was included in an indictment for
blasphemy, and considered heinous enough to merit severe punishment.

There were a few lines of verse picked out of long poems, and violently
forced from their context; and also a few facetious "Answers to
Correspondents," mangled in the same way. Certainly any publication
could be condemned on this plan. The Bible itself might be proved an
obscene book.

Then came eighteen illustrations, entitled "A New Life of Christ." All
the chief miracles of his career were satirised, but not a single human
incident was made the subject of ridicule. Now, if _miracles_ are
not objects of satire, I should like to know what are. If they never
happened, why should they enjoy more respect and protection than other
delusions? Why should one man be allowed to deny miracles, and
another man imprisoned for laughing at them? Must we regard long-faced
scepticism as permissible heresy, and broad-faced scepticism as
punishable blasphemy? And if so, why not set up a similar distinction
between long and broad faces in every other department of thought? Why
not let _Punch_ and _Fun_ be suppressed, political cartoons be Anathema,
and social satire a felony?

Another illustration was called "A Back View." It represented Moses
enjoying a panoramic view of Jahveh's "back parts." Judge North did
h