Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 271, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1916 — Making It Worse. [ARTICLE]

Making It Worse.

James Whitcomb Riley said that he was summoned as a witness in a case tried in an Indiana rural court where one of the witnesses before him evinced some disinclination to state her age. “Is it very necessary?” coyly asked the witness, a spinster of uncertain age. “It is absolutely necessary,’’ madam, interposed the judge. “Well,” sighed the maiden, “if I must, I suppose I must. I didn’t see how it could possibly effect the case, for you see—” “Madam," observed the judge, with some asperity, “I must ask you not to waste the time of this court. Kindly state your age.’’ Whereupon the spinster showed signs of hysterics. “I am, that is, I was —” “Madam, hurry up!” exclaimed the judge, now thoroughly Impatient. “Every minute makes it worse, you know! ”