GERALDINE

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2523, 22 April 1881, Page 2

GERALDINE

ARREST OF A LIBRARY. Mr Joseph Ivess whose adventures with members of the legal profession are becoming quite interesting, made a sudden descent on a law library in Geraldine yesterday. It appears, that some time since, Mr Ivess lured the library, in which he had been studying the best authorities on criminal libel and malicious prosecution for the benefit of Crisp of Asburton, to a professional gentleman in the Geraldine district. The books proved more profitable to the borrower than the lender. Not only did the journalist fail to obtain any rent for his property as agreed upon, but he began to realise the force of the lines; — These books if borrowed by a friend, Right welcome shall he be To read to study, not to lend But 10 return to me ; Not that imparted knowledge doth Diminish learning's store, But books I find when often lent,

Return to me no more. Plow to secure the books was now the difficulty ! Repeatedly he had applied for them but the books were not forthcoming. Yesterday, however, Mr Ivess again paid a casual visit to the solicitor’s office with the object, as usual, of requesting his rent or the books. The limb of the law happened to be absent and the books rested on a shelf before him. The temptation was irrosistable, and such thoughts as “ a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, ” aud“ surely a man cannot be challenged for taking bis own ” flitted through his mind. A few minutes afterwards the journalist, heavily laden with his law-library, might have been witnessed emerging from the solicitor’s office, and bending his steps railw'ay-wards while a smile of silent triumph and satisfaction beamed from bis features.