THE CUP-AND-SAUCERER. By Irying Browne. PEOPLE v. GILLSON, 109 N. Y. 389. A statute prohibiting the sale of any " article of food " upon the inducement of a gift, prize, premium, or reward to the buyer is unconstitutional.] ' I "HE legislature, in its zeal .*. To fortify the public weal, Enacted that no person should, On sale of article of food, Unto the purchaser accord A gift or premium or reward As an inducement to the sale; This, they considered, could not fail To cut off much adulteration And work a healthful reformation.

One Gillson sold coffee and teas, And sought his customers to please By offering them with each two pound Their choice of cup and saucer found Upon a neighboring counter spread, All gay with green, blue, gilt, and red. It seemed, that winter, Albany Was choked with every kind of tea, Like old historic Boston port, .. And women joyed in every sort Of kettle-drum and various scandal As fatal as the raid of Vandal, And as to Wellers great surprise, Swelled wisibly afore one's eyes; And men at breakfast dosed themselves With coffee from said Gillson 's shelves.

By such seductive, crafty offers Gillson diverted to his coffers Much of the trade his rivals had; Which naturally drove them mad,