Another Solomon.

Manawatu Herald, 12 November 1896, Page 3

Another Solomon.

For my own part, and I trait, says Mr Hutton in an exchange, it is not irreverent to aay so, it has always seemed to me that the incident pat forward of all others as an example of the Biblioal hero's wisdom is one of the least sagacious in his biography.-* There are many Eastern stories that might well compare with it if less dramatic ; for the child under the lifted knife oi the officer, between the 2 claimant mothers, is a splendid denouement to a fine story. Here is another case from the records of an Eastern court not unworthy of the great Oriental judge. A rich merchant died worth SOO.OOOfr., which he bequeathed to certain monks, leaving them to give his only son such sum out of that amount as they wished. The monks took all to themselves without wishing to give anything to the son and heir. The latter made plaint before the Viceroy, who, having carefully read the will, sent for the monks and asked them what they were prepared to offer to the Bon. " Ten thousand francs," they replied. " You wish, then, to have all the rost ?" " Yea, my lord ; we demand the execution of the will." "That is just," said the Viceroy, " but you do not properly understand the will. It gives to the ion what you wish ; you grant 10,000 to the heir ; it is then 290,---000 that you wish. Following the olaue* of the will, therefore, this sum is set apart for the son. I order you to give it to him ; the lO.OOOfr. remaining are yours."