130 THE JERSEY COAST. 
fifteen minutes, with the best will in the world to 
do each other all the damage possible, and only in- 
flict, in the feebleness of uneducated humanity, afew 
miserable scratches. Any of the lower animals 
would, in that time, have left serious marks of its 
anger; but the pitiful results of these human efforts 
were, that Bill’s beard was pulled and Ortley’s face 
scratched. It makes one blush to think he is a 
man. 
As our party returned to the blind we had left, 
Elijah spoke, softly ruminating aloud : 
“ Well, it only costs thirty-five dollars anyhow, 
and it. was worth that.” 
Our humane, peaceable friend, it seems, had been 
cast in a similar case, and had to pay six cents 
damages and thirty-five dollars costs of court. 
There is probably nothing that has so soothing and 
pacifying an influence on the New Jersey mind as 
costs of court. The words alone act like a charm upon 
a Jerseyman in the acme of frenzy, and are as effec- 
tive as a policeman in uniform. If a man commits 
assault and battery, he is fined six cents damages 
and costs of court; if he is guilty of trespass it is 
the same; if he kisses his neighbor’s wife against 
her will, if he slanders a friend’s character, it: is 
always six cents damages and costs of court; and 
Jerseymen will probably expect in the next world 
to get off with six cents damages and costs of court. 
The shooting was excellent during the whole day, 
and evening found us collected in the bar-room, well 
satisfied and particularly jocose over the amusing 
