2/6 A BOOK ABOUT ROSES. 



when " a judge was not sacred from violence. Any 

 one might interrupt him, might accuse him of ini- 

 quity and corruption in the most reproachful terms, 

 and, throwing down his gauntlet, might challenge 

 him to defend his integrity in the field ; nor could 

 he without infamy refuse to accept his defiance, or 

 decline to enter the lists against such an adver- 

 sary."* That is to say, he would like to interrupt, 

 to accuse, to reproach, and perhaps to challenge, 

 but certainly not to fight, for these passionate folk 

 are invariably cowards. They dare not attack 

 with anything but words ; unless they possess an 

 overwhelming power, like that suburban, pot- 

 house, betting Eleven, who once upon a time per- 

 suaded Jimmy Dean to act as umpire at one of 

 their boosy matches, and ran him home six miles 

 across country w^ith furious execrations and threats 

 to London, because he gave a decision adverse to 

 their interest at a critical period of the game. 



At one time you will see the Irascible Exhibi- 

 tor standing by his Roses, and revealing his 

 wrongs to any who will hear ; occasionally making 

 a deep impression upon elderly ladies, and almost 

 persuading very young reporters to chronicle his 

 woes in print ; but oftener failing to evoke sympa- 

 thy, you will find him with a countenance, like 



* KdbQrison's History of Charles V., vol i. 



