The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-29
COURT HUMOR.
A Corset Case i'm the Grave United
States Supreme Court.

States supreme Court.
Correspondence Courier-Journall
The proceedings in the Supreme Court
are occasionally enlivened by cases which
border on the ludicrous. In erder to
fully appreciate the humorof the situa-
tion when corset patent was brought
into the court, it will give effect to the
story to take a review of the Judges. The
long, black silk gowns, which they all
wear, give an idea of extra judicial dig
nifty. The Chief Justice is not imposing
looking, but he has strong cast of coun-
tenance, without CLEAN Of merriment.
Judge Clifford has a rosy, benevolent
face, and his large, white neckcloth sets
off the sombreness of his silk gown.
Mr.. Justice Clifford has the most
exalted idea Of the court, ranking it
next to Heaven He would readily pass
for a bishop, and never tolerates any
thing bordering on liberty. Judge
Swayne is portly, and has an intellect
ual head and face. Justice Field is a
grizzly blonde, but endowed with be-
coming gravity when on the bench.
Judge Miller has a large ponderous
frame, and is the embodiment of legal
lore and the responsibilities of his high
Office. He has the spared form and ne
fined face of an ascetic. He is a men,
Der of the Presbyterian Church, rigid
observer of his religious duties, strong
temperance man, and a model husband
and father Judge Bradley is Of short
stature, scholarly, and very courteous.
He looks very wise and very severe
while on the bench.
Judge Hunt, before he was paralyzed
and incapacitated for work, looked too
refined, too high-bred and conrtly for the
rigid and exacting duties of the court.
Light behavior, jests or profanity would
shock him as they would sensitive
woman. Judge Harlan has a boyish
smooth face, full of good humor and
kindness. He maintains majestic gravity
during an argument.
The corset patent was delicate sub
ject to bring into this august court, but
the contending parties had gone to law
on the question as to whether ecoutil'
was cut ON the straight or bias, and in re
gard to the whalebone castings One pat
entee claimed that he had improved upor
the original design; that the first pat
entee's corset placed the whalebone il
the casing, and that it had TO be fastened
with needle and thread; that his pat
ent had the advantage Of an invention
which closed up the top and bottom Of
the opening. .....
| The lawyer who was arguing the case
brought lot of the corsets in court and
distributed them to each of the Judges
that they might examine the invention
as he explained it. The novel spectacle
was presented of each one Of these gen
tlemen timidly scrutinizing the mys
teries of the bias and straight, and push
ing whalebones in and out of the cas-
ings. The shrinking modesty of Judge
Strong was evinced by the blush which
mantled his cheek. All tried to lool
knowing and capable Of giving an astutt
opinion; they whispered to one another
Of course exchanging only legal knowl
edge, but the iudicrous situation wa
appreciated by the lawyers and spec
tators.
I 1t was suggested that the Judge
should put the corsets against their pei
sons, and by changing positions woul
see how much the wearefs OF corset
would be benefited by an inventio,
which would SO securely fasten the whale
bones that they could not be squeeze
ont by bending the body or even tn
tight fit of dress. The Judges gave
murmur Of relief when the argumer
closed and the corsets were returned t
the patentee. That evening at recel
, tion it was observed that special attel
) tion was paid by the Judges of tn
! Supreme Court to well-developed fo
eign lady, whose deeolette dress enable
them to study the question outside Of tt
> court. The opinion afterward delivere
! was derived from the practical know
: odpa oroiuad fhot avaninu