The Project Gutenberg EBook of Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol.
98, 1890.05.10, by Various

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 98, 1890.05.10

Author: Various

Editor: F. C. (Francis Cowley) Burnand

Release Date: December 17, 2009 [EBook #30694]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PUNCH ***

Produced by Neville Allen, Malcolm Farmer and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

PUNCH,

OR, THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

VOLUME 98.

MAY 10, 1890.

* * * * *

EIGHT HOURS ONLY.

(_A Fancy Sketch of the Possible._)

It was the first day under the operation of the new Act. Everyone was a
little nervous about the outcome, and JOHN JONES, the Barrister, was no
exception to the general rule. At three o'clock he was in the full swing
of an impassioned appeal to the Jury.

"I beg your pardon, Mr. JONES," said the Judge, glancing at the clock,
"but I am afraid I must interrupt you. I cannot hear you any longer."

"But, my Lord, I have not touched upon a third of the case. I can assure
you my remarks shall be as brief as possible."

"That is not the point, Mr. JONES," replied his Lordship. "I am
following your argument with the liveliest interest, and I am sure that
all you would wish to say would be of the greatest possible service to
your client; but unfortunately I happen to know that you prepare your
cases in the early hours of the morning. Now, you know the law as well I
do. If you have not been at work to-day for eight hours, of course I
shall be happy to hear; but if you have----"

"As your Lordship pleases," said poor JONES, and he gathered up his
papers, and left the Court.

"Just in time, Sir," observed the attendant in the robing-room, as he
put the Barrister's wig in its box, and assisted him to divest himself
of his gown. "Had you come five minutes later, we should have gone."

"Really! How would that have suited silk and stuff?"

"Caused a fearful row, I am afraid, Sir. But we daren't exceed the eight
hours' limit, and we must keep two or three of them for some work we
have in the evening."

W