Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-06-16
WHOLE NO. 1872.
The Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court
Tho Supreme Court room Is tho one
spot In the Capitol into which ths
stranger tarrying within our gates dosG
not intrude; indeed, II the stranger Xero
not guided to 1t. he would never find Il,
standing, as 1t does, in tho darkest niche
of the marble corridor leading from the
rOtunda Of the Senate Chamber, writes
correspondent of the Amsric0W Regis-
ter. II the stranger can be induced t.
ait awhile and content himself, hs viii
learn much that Is instructive and -
much that Is curious. Nine mon. grave
and reverend. each one looking .,
though he had passed the line of time
which separates ones old age from his
prime. sit before him in quiet dignity.
The black silken robes in which they are
clad gives them the appearance of min
while the little books they hold IN their
hands, with pencils in suspense. ssem =
belle the first impression, and raise In
fancy the picture OF the race-traok and
betting-book. An inspection OF the
books. however. proves them to be the
record Of the case on hearing. which .
dapper little man, in language o. dry -
the cObwebs ON bis Office walls, IL arGu-
ing. He speaks in o monotone. and The
gathered wisdom of centuries is rolled
into his brief. No buncombe oratory,
no flashes Of wit. no pathetic touches
which sadden In the nisi priHs court
and float jury's verdict on . stream
Of tears. characterize the dapper
little LAWYERS speech. for he n
beginning where all feeling ended
hard. dry reason IL the only weapon
in his armory. The case itself
may be q curiosity; whatever the
decision in it may be. 1t will be per-
petuated in the reports, and through
time to come other lawyers viii
learn 1t and quote II glibly. Into this
court OF last resort it has come only
after long years of waiting. MayhsP
children were born into it. inheritin2 &
ss . legacy. and. growing into msa-
hood. pinned their existeaoe to 1t In
hope. or. groaning under the disap.
pointment It caused them. blew their
brains out to escape the poverty il e.
tailed; people may have married into Il,
grown old and died natural deaths In Il,
romance and reality. love and hate, 10Y
and sorrow. may have iumblsd clasi-
tngly together In it, but the record, tt
will never tell you Of these things; for
the record alone contains the legal facts
In 1t. Certain It is, that t.. has ooms
from thousands Of miles away; and inst
as truly, has it been the case OF the but
terdy BY the child, or the hunt for. the
bushel Of gold at the foot OF tho. rain
bow. When one quotes the sayin1 OF
some learned Judge-the Older tho bst-
tar-and applies the principle Il eoa-
eains to certain circumstance arising
from certain fact. one is called 3 law
yer; when one looks behind the title.
John Doe ". Richard Roe. to aAalyD
the feelings. the Joys and hsaEtacAss
enlivenins and cruShing those wko via
be enriched or beggarsd In tbs reiukae
the application Of the principals, one =
called "A poet. ..It's good II IL Wy"
says Greenbag and fsrchmsnk Dc
reading Hamlet. but Il il not the law"
ut is sad the men died BY the nsgH.
gence Of fellow workman; but thea
their death. though, melancholy, hag
settled the law" says the learned
Judge.
So the dapper little lawyer. oblivious
Of everything save his books and hia
reason. continues In monotone his lsgal
jargon. So the Judges In silken robsS,
with books and pencils, listen - intena.
ly as . child to . fairy tals by tie Aro.
side, and so the auditors slip noissless-
ly out to gaze upon the pictures In ~
Virginia from the doms II IL
stranger. however. still lingers. and Il
he will count In the row Of Judges foar
fron either end. bis eye will rest. upoa
the Chief Justice. To hold the of6ee
Of Chief Justice Of the Supreme CouFs
Is to hold the highest ONCE in the ooan-
try. Members and Senators Wield thair
powers and distribute their patronage
only for . few brief years at best; II
popular breath which, makes them aloo
DEGREES their change. Tho Prssidans
himself descends from his lofty posjtioa
to mingle among the people. With oaly
tho simple prefix '.Mr." placed bstogo
his name, but the Chief Justice Of tie
Supreme Court Of the United Staeee q
America IL Chief Justice for. h6a. n.
gardless of popular changss and chances,
nay. In death history Will always spesk
Of hiU % the Chief Justioe. h ~.
resents human ambition satis6ed; ha !
Alexander without that monarch RPisf;
his is the triumph Of the Roman GsG-
eral. ;I .S2s1t n
Around the ssmi-circular walls vith
their dead faces cut In marble, watch
ing the proceedings to-day. the straneeu
may count the Chisf Justiees Who hSy0
been since the Republic ba9an. and m