First Line of Defense. In St. Paul, legislators first defeated, later passed (77 to 44) a bill legalizing the sale of vodka, despite Representative F. Gordon Wright's warning that "the bill is nothing but Communist propaganda . . . Pravda [will] tell all the people behind the Iron Curtain that we have taken a liking to their national drink."

Uniform of the Day. In Massa, Italy, a month after her marriage, Mrs. Pieran-dera Marzulani complained to police that her husband stopped her from talking by forcing her to wear a muzzle about the house.

Captive Audience. In Pasco, Wash., arrested in a liquor raid on a nightclub, Adell Scott, 25, was acquitted of a vagrancy charge when he explained that he had been pushed into the club by cops rushing through the door to stage the raid.

Long Arm. In Tampa, police closed their books on a case of suspected murder after they got word from the FBI that the human bones they had discovered in a trash pile belonged to a prehistoric Indian.

At the Wheel. In Franklin, Vt., Alfred Bean, 50, left a testimonial luncheon honoring him for getting a National Safety Council Award for 20 years of perfect driving with the Railway Express, walked across the street to the courthouse, where he was found guilty of charges of driving his own car while drunk 20 days before.

Rule of Thumb. In Cairo, Egypt, after listening to the complaint of Mrs. Zeinab Hassanein Eddine, 22, that her husband had slapped her, Judge Sheikh Mahmud Mikawi granted a divorce, ruled that although a husband may beat his wife with a cane "no thicker than a finger," he must not strike her on the face, which "reflects the beauty of woman."

Hard Bitten. In San Manuel, Ariz., editors of the San Manuel Miner announced temporary suspension of home delivery after Deliveryman Ralph Vira-montez resigned because he was tired of fighting off the stray dogs around town.

Rush Hour. In San Francisco, Gunman Jack M. Love, 29, complained to police that before he was able to rob the Carmel Liquors Store of $64, he not only had to wait for the customers to leave, but also to outwait a rival who was hanging around for the same purpose.

Welfare State. In Glasgow, during the trial of Charles Frazer, 26, for indecent behavior, Prosecuting Attorney J. W. Gibbs explained the reason why so many housewives undressed for scarlet fever examinations when Frazer told them he was a health inspector: the British are "so schooled to officialdom they are hesitant to challenge credentials."

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