Let me now give another. It excited great laughter in court, and
I confess the situation was so comic that I could scarcely preserve
my own gravity. After quoting a number of "blasphemous" passages
from the writings of Professor Clifford, Lord Amberley, Matthew Arnold,
the author of "The Evolution of Christianity," Swinburne, Byron and
Shelley, I proceeded thus: "Now, gentlemen, I have given you a few
illustrations of permitted blasphemy in expensive books, and I will
now trouble you with a few instances of permitted blasphemy in cheap
publications, which are unmolested because they call themselves
Christian, and because those who conduct them are patronised by
ecclesiastical dignitaries." Here I produced a copy of the _War Cry_,
in which I had marked a piece of idiotic "blasphemy." Judge North
scented mischief, and gestured to the officer behind me. But that
functionary was too deeply interested in the case to make much haste,
and, not wishing to be frustrated, I read as rapidly as I could.
Before he could arrest me I had finished the extract. My auditors
were all convulsed with laughter, except the judge, who was convulsed
with rage. As soon as he could articulate he addressed me as follows:
Mr. Justice North: Now, Foote, I am going to put a stop to this.
I will not allow any more of these illustrations of what you
call permitted blasphemy in cheap publications.
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