Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-08-29
Judge Growers Shabby Apparel.
T. B. Proctor in Rochester Union

IhlS singular 1ncluonC occurred at q
term of the Allegeny Circuit, where that
admirable Judge and accomplished gen
tleman, Robert Mcneil, presided. Dur
ing the term case of great public in
terest was brought to trial Judge
Grover if possible more shabbily dress
ed than usual, conducted the case with
consumate ability for the plaintiff, con-
Guiding the trial in an argument of I'M
usual power and effect. Judge Mcneil
then delivered his charge to the Jurors.
After they had retired he said:
Mr.. Grover. before taking UP anoth-
er cause desire to say a few words to
you"
"To me, Your Honor?' said Grove
with some surprise"
eyes, to you. | take this occasion t
request you, in all kindness, hereafte.
to treat this Court, your fellow-memben
of the bar, and yourself with that re-,
spect that is due them as we'll as tC5
yoursef-in a word, in manner mOre1
becoming the distinguished position YOU
occupy as a lawyer" said the Judge
81 am at loss to understand Your
Honor. l am not conscious of having,
by word or deed, treated Your Honor
with disrespect the very thought of
such a thing would be painful to me-"
said Grover. i" do, however, remem-
ber," he continued, after moments re-
Election, II do remember that when my
distinguished opponent said, perhaps
with some truth, though it was none of
his business, that [ was Il walking rag
bag and legal scarecrOw, disgrace to
the profession, that | mildly but truth
fully remarked, that all this was the
height of responsibility compared with
the exhibitions he has made of himself,
not only professionally but privately
that legally he is rag-picker, gather
er of putridity, with which he gluts a
fulsome market; that in the end he
makes ragamuffins of his clients. did
further say, soothingly, that l had seen
a picture of one of his clients on tav-
ern sign, on one side of which the poor
fellow was represented as going to law
fat, sleek, we'll dressed and riding fine
horse and his pockets full of money.
On the other side he is represented as
having been to law-that is, having
passed through the benevolent hands of
my opponent, but, OH what change.
He was skinned like an eel-his clothes,
if possible, more ragged than mine
his horse on the point Of starvation
his money gone-that is, transferred to
the capacious pockets of my friend-he
was lean. lout and distressed; looking
for all the world like the fellow in the
Scriptures who had fallen among thieves
and lawyers beg pardon, robbers
did pleasantly in great kindness, re-
mark"
"You need not pursue that subject
any further, Mr.. Grover" said the
Judge, interrupting him. {" [ do not"
he continued, "allude to any personal
alteration you have had with any
member of this bar, or to any offensive
words which you have addressed to the
Court, for in that respect you hav' been
uniformly courteous and respectful l
allude to the unbecoming carelessness
of your personal appearance in the
matter of dress"
"Is there any rule of court-any prin-
ciple Of statute or common law, Your
Honor, that directs how a lawyer should
dress at this or any other bar?'
"There is code. sir, which all men,
whatever rank or profession they may
occupy, are bound to obey-a code
which, | regret to say, you are in the
constant habit of disobeying. 1t is that
code which requires decent respect for
the conventional rlles of society-ex-
hibited as much, nay more, in due re-
gard for propriety in dress as in any
thing else; for as the great poet Of hui
man nature has said, the apparel oft
prOclaims the man.
"Does Your Honor -
eve cannot permit any further inter
ruption," continued the Judge, with I'M
surpassed dignity AS [ was about to
say, were we conscious that you are
driven by poverty to dress as you do we
should certainly be careful of your feel
ings and not allude to it. But we know
that you are not only in easy but affiuent
circumstances. We can, therefore,
hardly assign a reason for this gross neg
lect of your personal appearance. There
certainly exists no good reason; there is
no apology Or excuse for it. We trust
that it may arise from thoughtlessness
which you will overcome; that you will
hereafter appear at the bar and else
where in garb more expressive of your
respect for the profession, which you
would otherwise brilliantly adorn"
During the delivery Of this admirable
address Grover sat in the bar, his arms
folded across his breast, calm, imper-
turable, digni6ed, his eyes riveted upon
the Judge, his whole appearance that of
a man sustained by conscious superb
ority, under circumstances that would
have overwhelmed almost any other
man.
If his features expressed anything il
was humor. Not a shade of mortifca
ton, wounded pride Or dissatisfaction
passed over them. When Judge None
concluded his remarks Grover rose from
his seat and in a composed, pleasant
manner said:
"This is the first time in my limitel
experience that have ever known
court of justice to interfere with thh