.
This fact is said to have called forth a witty pronouncement by a late
president of that Division of the Courts. "Here is my brother
Phillimore, who objects to making decrees _nisi_ absolute because he
believes in the sanctity of the marriage tie. By and by we may be having
a Unitarian appointed to the Bench, and he will refuse to try Admiralty
suits, as he would have to sit with Trinity Masters."

In sentencing a burglar recently, the judge referred to him as a
"professional," to which the prisoner strongly protested from the dock.
"Here," he exclaimed, "I dunno wot you mean by callin' me a professional
burglar. I've only done it once before, an' I've been nabbed both
times." The judge, in the most suave manner, replied, "Oh, I did not
mean to say that you had been very successful in your profession."

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE HON. MR JUSTICE GRANTHAM, JUDGE OF THE KING'S BENCH
DIVISION.]

Mr. Justice Grantham had a keen sense of humour. On one occasion, when
he was judge at the Newcastle Assizes, he left the mansion-house where
he was staying, at night, to post his letters. As he was wearing a cap
he was not recognised by the police officer who was on duty outside, and
the constable inquired of his lordship if "the old ---- had gone to bed
yet." The judge replied that he thought not, and a short while after he
had returned to the house he raised his bedroom window, and putting out
his head called to the constable below: "Officer, the old ---- is just
going to bed now."

[Illustration: THE HON. MR JUSTICE DARLING, JUDGE OF THE KING'S BENCH
DIVISION.]

Hardly a case of any importance comes into Mr. Justice Darling's Court
without attracting a large attendance of the public, as much from
expectation of being entertained by the repartees between Bench and Bar
as from interest in the proceedings before the Court. In a recent turf
libel case his lordship gave a free rein to his proclivity to give an
amusing turn to statements of both counsel and witnesses. At one point
he intervened by remarking that other witnesses than the one under
examination had said that a horse is made fit by running on the course
before he is expected to win a position, and added, "That is so, not
only on the race-course. You can never make a good lawyer by putting him
to read in the library." To which the defendant, who conducted his own
case, replied, "But I take it a barrister does try."--"You have no