"Ha, Rollol"

Not only do the fortunate inhabitants of the cow-breeding strawberry-raising island of Guernsey, ancient fief of the Dukes of Normandy, enjoy the finest climate and the lowest taxes in the British Isles, but they have their own special coins and measures (eight doubles: one penny; one vergee: 0.4 acres) and their own archaic and particular means of legal redress. The method of obtain.ng a civil injunction in Guernsey is curious, simple and direct, consists in raising a Clameur de Haro in the presence of witnesses.

Last week one Alfred Arthur Machon, Guernsey householder, stepped outside his villa, was vexed to see that a plasterer working on a villa next door had put up a scaffolding that overhung his rose garden, and while plastering the wall of the house, was dropping plaster on his rose bushes.

"Look here, my man," said Alfred Arthur Machon, "You're sloshing plaster all over my roses."

"Well, what of it?" said the surly plasterer, dropping an extra-large gob.

"What of it? Your scaffolding is over hanging my property. I insist you take it down immediately."

Neighbors gathered. The plasterer, whistling cheerfully at his work, continued to slosh plaster. At 12:15 p. m. House holder Machon stepped forward, dropped on both knees. "Haro! Haro! Haro!" he cried slowly and distinctly, "a I'aide mon prince, on me fait tort!"*

By Guernsey law, the Clameur de Haro constitutes a legal injunction. The alleged "tort" or wrong must cease until the case has been tried in the island's Royal Court. In the Royal Court last week appeared Householder Alfred Arthur Machon and witnesses who deposed that the plasterer had not only paid no attention to the Clameur de Haro, raised at 12:15 p. m., but had continued his slovenly plastering until 12:50.

"By which time," added Witness James Colivet, "the rose bushes were absolutely covered with plaster."

Arthur William Bell, Bailiff of Guernsey, cogitated on the bench. "There seems to be no doubt," said Bailiff Bell, "that there has been a direct contravention of the Clameur de Haro. There was risk of a serious breach of the peace by virtue of the accused's behavior. I am obliged, therefore, to fine him the nominal sum of one shilling."

*Guernsey gaffers believe that the cry "Haro!" is an abbreviation of "Ha, Rollo!" an appeal to Rollo, first Duke of Normandy. More probably it comes from Anglo-Saxon licra or hara, an exclamation intended to attract attention. At Irish county fairs hucksters still shout "Aral Aral" when displaying their wares.

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