Connecticut western news., 1884-08-13
A PRIMITIVE COURT DAY.
The Bar and the Courts Together for n
 Good Time.

A correspondent of the New York EUening Post, writing from Hamilton county, N. Y., says :-
 "Sageville, at the head of Lake Pleas ant, three and half miles west, figured largely in these "reminiscences, and thither we rowed one day along the winding shores of the lake, It IS the county seat of Hamilton county, but lest it's importance be overestimated, we will add that Hamilton, although the second largest county ill the State, con- tains but 2,293 inhabitants, and that the one church, clergyman, physician or lawyer which it boasts are not located in Sageville. Seclusion and primitive ness are written over the little hamlet. The smart courthouse, with its pillared portico, and little stone jail beside it, are marked interlopers, quite out of harmony with the ancient tavern and weather beaten structures that constitute the village proper. The first visitor here found the sole prisoner hoeing in the iailer's cabbage patch. The present pilgrim found the jaii empty and the iailer whistling lonesomely on the steps. Hamilton county is certainly law-abid- ing. There is little chapel in charge of circuit-rider, whose circuit embraces twenty -four miles of mountain road and three preaching places, services being held at Sageville every other Sunday. The alternate Sundays ''don't count, |" as an old mountaineer explained, and are spent in hunting, fishing, and other profane occupations. But on court days Sageville assumes that serious and dig nified air beftting it's position. There are two of these days annualIy--the second Monday in June and the first in October. To the mountaineer court day is high festival; the hard.worked Circuit Judge also looks forward to 1t as a respite. To the attending lawyers it assures Q delightful introduction to mountain air, beauty, and merry-mak- ing. That serious business will occupy their attention is not once thought of, for, with one exception, not in the mem- ory of man has case of importance oc- cupied the attention of the County Court of Hamilton. One the eve of court-day the Judge arrives, splashed and be- spattered by the vilIainous county roads, and is made comfortable at the tavern in the room reserved for state occasions. The evening brings a com plement of lawyers. Next morning court opens with due formalities, and after decent interval, no business ap- bearing, adjourns, perhaps to engage in deer hunt, but more often to re- assemble in the capacious bar-room of the tavern for storytelling and con- parison of the years experiences. His Honor presides, and beams genially on his legal children; the Sheriff occupies the seat of honor on his right, and the lawyers contribute their brightest witti- cisms and raciest tales; or an ancient mountaineer, famous for his skill at drawing the long bow, entertains the company. In the evening a grand ball in honor of the occasion is given in one of the village houses. The disciples of Blackstone attend in all the impress siveness of store clothes,' the beauty and chivalry of the mountains gather to meet them, and the dance is tripped until daylight sends the jewellers home.