Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-03-11
:. wHEREwIrHAL SHALL YE BE ECLoTHEDY p


Chief Justice Waite has given very sensitive
people chance to complain about nothing A law
yer recently got up to address the Supreme Court,
wearing his overcoat. The overcoat may have
been of the possibly comfortable but monstrous-
ly ugly, variety known the " Ulster"-though
this fact has not been chroniced. Be it as it
may the Chief Justice turned to one Of his as
socistes aud, after consulting amoment. request
ed the advocate to remove his outer garment
before proceeding further with the legal
matter in hand. A shrek for freedom it is con-
fidently expected will be raised over this
incident. The argument OF the
liberals can be forecast without trouble.
A man has right to dress to suit himself,
they will say, as long as he does not outrage
proprlety, and as any gentleman would be allow
ed bo sit in the Supreme court room with his
overcoat on he has an equal right to get on his
legs and talk with the coat on still,-and any
other ruling is perversion of the spirit of
American Institutions. They will possibly refer
to the ease of the Friend who was forced to re-
move his hat in Philadephia Court, but who
subsequently made clear his right to wear that
hat wherever and at whatsoever times he chose
Bat this ernestness on the part of irrepressible
free America will defeat itself. Certain
ly there is nothing either legally impro'
per, or opposed to good breeding, in addressing a
judge in the manner shown, but for all that there
may be reason for making rule on the sub
iect. 1t is not the improper things only which
should sometimes be tabooed the unseemly
things enter the account as well, and what is en-
tirely seemly under certain conditions may not
ha or all nth
court-and especially so elevated tribunal as
the Supreme Court of the United States-is
nothing if not dignifed. 1t has right to insist
on the EXTREMIST punctillio. If the American
citizen feels that he has right to do as he
pleases therein as long as he behaves himself,
snd contends that if he is cool he may wear his
overcoat, why II lie is uncomfortably warm
should he not take of his body coat as well, and
dIsport in all the airy freedom Of shirt sleeves
or if his corns hurt him, wi may not lie
pull of his boots 1t is needful to draw the
line and it is proper it should in the subject un-
der discussion touch the point OF gentleman's
ordinary indoor dress The absurd position
Of Judge Allison in the hat-wearing case IL
not parallel to Chief Justice Waites
position. The friend in the Philadelphia case
wore his hat becauHe.that was symbal OF one
Of the Quaker articles of faith. He wore that
article of dress in his place of worship. and his
life experience had taught him that his peculiar
Indulgence WAS respected and treated as a thing
quite a matter of course. II any set Of lawyers
should make the wearing of oyercoats matter
OF conscience it is presumed the Supreme Court
would respect such feeling, but until that un-
looked for time arrives it may not be out Of the
way to accept the hint Of the Chief Justice
There are symptoms of rebellion but second
thought will convince reasonable people that
Judge Waite right.