{"product_id":"2940016177809","title":"The Rising of the Court and Other Sketches in Prose and Verse","description":"THE RISING OF THE COURT\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  Oh, then tell us, Sings and Judges, where our meeting is to be,\u003cbr\u003e  when the laws of men are nothing, and our spirits all are free\u003cbr\u003e  when the laws of men are nothing, and no wealth can hold the fort,\u003cbr\u003e  There'll be thirst for mighty brewers at the Rising of the Court.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe same dingy court room, deep and dim, like a well, with the clock\u003cbr\u003ehigh up on the wall, and the doors low down in it; with the bench,\u003cbr\u003ewhich, with some gilding, might be likened to a gingerbread imitation\u003cbr\u003eof a throne; the royal arms above it and the little witness box to one\u003cbr\u003eside, where so many honest poor people are bullied, insulted and\u003cbr\u003elaughed at by third-rate blackguardly little \"lawyers,\" and so many\u003cbr\u003epitiful, pathetic and noble lies are told by pitiful sinners and\u003cbr\u003edisreputable heroes for a little liberty for a lost self, or for the\u003cbr\u003esake of a friend--of a \"pal\" or a \"cobber.\"  The same overworked\u003cbr\u003eand underpaid magistrate trying to keep his attention fixed on the\u003cbr\u003esame old miserable scene before him; as a weary, overworked and\u003cbr\u003eunderpaid journalist or author strives to keep his attention fixed on\u003cbr\u003ehis proofs.  The same row of big, strong, healthy, good-natured\u003cbr\u003epolicemen trying not to grin at times; and the police-court solicitors\u003cbr\u003e(\"the place stinks with 'em,\" a sergeant told me) wrangling over\u003cbr\u003esome miserable case for a crust, and the \"reporters,\" shabby some of\u003cbr\u003ethem, eager to get a brutal joke for their papers out of the\u003cbr\u003eaccumulated mass of misery before them, whether it be at the expense\u003cbr\u003eof the deaf, blind, or crippled man, or the alien.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd opposite the bench, the dock, divided by a partition, with the\u003cbr\u003ewomen to the left and the men to the right, as it is on the stairs or\u003cbr\u003ethe block in polite society.  They bring children here no longer.  The\u003cbr\u003esame shaking, wild-eyed, blood-shot-eyed and blear-eyed drunks and\u003cbr\u003edisorderlies, though some of the women have nerves yet; and the same\u003cbr\u003edecently dressed, but trembling and conscience-stricken little wretch\u003cbr\u003eup for petty larceny or something, whose motor car bosses of a big\u003cbr\u003efirm have sent a solicitor, \"manager,\" or some understrapper here to\u003cbr\u003eprosecute and give evidence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut, over there, on a form to one side of the bench-opposite the\u003cbr\u003ewitness box--and as the one bright spot in this dark, and shameful,\u003cbr\u003eand useless scene--and in a patch of sunlight from the skylight as it\u003cbr\u003ehappens--sit representatives of the Prisoners' Aid Society, Prison\u003cbr\u003eGate and Rescue Brigades, etc. (one or two of the ladies in nurses'\u003cbr\u003euniforms), who are come to help us and to fight for us against the Law\u003cbr\u003eof their Land and of ours, God help us!","brand":"WDS Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47081189998832,"sku":"2940016177809","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940016177809_p0.jpg?v=1763630443","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940016177809","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}