CARTER THE GREAT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 129, 22 August 1927, Page 14

CARTER THE GREAT

HIS MAJESTY’S ON WEDNESDAY To be educated for the career of a ’barrister, to practice law for a number of years and subsequently become a famous conjurer, forms part of the interesting experiences of Carter the Great, who will appear for ten day's at His Majesty-’s, commencing on Wednesday, with his company* of assistants, and 31 tons of magical accoutrement. When Carter was a student of law and had passed all his examinations, which was signalised by his receiving his sheepskin of authorisation as a scholar and a disciple of Blackstone, it became necessary for him to come up before the law examiners for admittance to the bar. During the course of this dread oral and written quiz, Carter was brusquely* asked by* one of his legal inquisitors, among other questions, to define the duties of a common carrier. Carter for the once was somewhat puzzled by the apparent simplicity of the question, yet, at the same time, suspected that it might be a catch question which supreme court judges like to employ with which to confound neophytes. Carter thought it best to plead ignorance and replied; “I am very sorry* to say that when I entered this inquisitorial chamber to appear before this honourable body*, I knew perfectly well all the duties of a common carrier, but, I am compelled to admit that I have now completely forgotten them.” To which the sagacious solon rejoined: “Gentlemen, do you hear what Mr. Carter has to say; he urbanely declares that he has forgotten in a few minutes what the supreme court of the land has tried to find out for the last hundred years.”