Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 10.pdf/425

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The Green Bag.

call him a " Protestant." He asserted that in fact many Protestants had assured him that if anyone called them Methodists they would proceed for damages at once; and (capping the climax) he insisted that " the Methodists are the Castors of Protestant ism "; —- shades of the pious Wesley! (However, we think there is no allusion here to the immortal twin that sprang from Leda's egg, nor to the small wheel on which furniture sometimes moves; but to the bea ver, Canada's fitting emblem, the term ap plied to the National party among the French-Canadians.) In four months Judge Jette gave a judgment in Sauvalle's favor for $200, the amount claimed. Tardival was not satisfied and appealed. In due time the Court of Appeal (Mr. Justice Bosse dissent ing) confirmed the judgment of Justice Jette. Sir Alexander Lacoste, C. J., in pronouncing the decision of the majority, said they had never had a similar case, that the term " Methodist " was not offensive per ss, but only under the circumstances; that if M. Sauvalle had really been a Methodist it would have been just to have so informed the readers of " Canada Revue;" it was not proved that Sauvalle was not a Catholic, bad Catholics were still Catholics; and that to allow the plea of compensation would be to subvert all social order, by allowing men to take the law into their own hands.' Verily in Quebec to succeed you " must get a prayer book in your hand and stand between two churchmen." "Freemason " is another term to which worthy Roman Catholics in Quebec strongly object. " La Miuerve," of Montreal, a few years ago insinuated that M. Lareau, as well as Messrs. Geofifrion, Laflamme, Robidoux and others were "Freemasons," and M. Lareau made the newspaper pay $400 damages. Dr. I^amarche sued the Rev. Canon Bruchesi because he had alienated from him one of his patients whom he had safely brought through ten accouchements, the eleventh in teresting event was followed by fever. When

the good lady recovered, an article appeared in " Le Monde" which stated that the pa tient had just been on the point of death' and finding medical skill of no avail, she! made a novena in honor of St. Didace (a| worthy man who dwelt in Canada a century and a half agone), and asked to be allowed to complete her vows as a member of the Tiers Ordre of St. Francis. Her request was complied with and she immediately got better. The Doctor thought that the priest had inspired this paragraph with the malicious intention of depriving him of the credit of the cure and giving all the praise to the saint, and so to law he went. However, as the evidence did not bear out the charges the worthy son of Galen got no golden pieces to soothe his wounded feelings. Les Petits Freres de Marie kept school, and Moise Lefebvre had an eight-year male scion of his house attending. For annoying another boy young Lefebvre was ordered to step up to the platform and kneel down, not doing this with alacrity, Brother Ethelbert went and took him by the ear, and led him up, the boy meanwhile wriggling, twisting, jerk ing his head as only boys can do when they seek to escape,— what master does not know the slippery nature of tender youth? The consequence was, the cartilage of the ear was fractured or ruptured. The father sued for damages and he was awarded $50 and costs. Judge Davidson of the Superior Court in giving judgment said the discipline in schools must be so enforced as to avoid bodily injuries; the ear is too delicate an organ to be seized upon, and in spite of re sistance to be used to bring an offending pupil to punishment; there are parts of the body to which, as experience has taught us all, the master may apply himself with ab solute safety. Doubtless the judge, if he had thought, would have exclaimed with Byron : — "Oh, ye, who teach the ingenious youth of nations, I pray ye flog them upon all occasions. It mends their morals,— never mind the pain.