THE JERSEY COAST. 251 



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, a few 

 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 



