The Washington critic., 1886-03-13
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Probably" says the Washington
correspondent of the Boston TrdcGLer,
there is not more conservative body
of men in the world than the Supreme
Court of the United States. There is
SO much dignity about the courtroom
that the air is fairly oppressive with it.
No member of the bar is permitted to
wear an overcoat within its sacred pre-
cincts, and everything is run with the
idea that the court proposes to be as
awe-inspiring as it can be, and it sue
ceeds pretty well in that direction.
The venerable justices file from their
robing.room precisely as the clock
strikes 12. They enter in the order in
which they sit, little Justice Blatchford
leading, Chief-Justice Waite in the
centre and big Justice Gray guarding
the rear. Years ago the Supreme
Court was nearly wrecked over the
question of the proper time to open
court. All agreed that noon was the
hour, but each justice had watch by
which he desired to regulate the move.
ments of the entire court. AS no two
of the watches kept the same time, the
then Chief.Justice ordered clock to
be made by Connecticut man, which
is now running in the clerks Office 1t
was made entirely by hand, and even
now Keeps most excellent time. Unlike
the clocks of to-day, 1t strikes once
only each hour. 1t is in the robing-
room, where the genial side of the Su-
preme Court comes out, but alas, no
one save the Justices and officers are
permitted TO enter there. Occasionally
some stray story or reminiscence
wanders away, and is repeated over
and over again. The robing room Is
furnished with the same chairs and
sofas that were there half century
ago. They are of solid San Domingo
mahogany, with black hair-cloth
coverings. Pictures of the dead who
have made the court famous cover the
walls, while in one corner is a neatly
framed engraving of Lord Chief JUS
tice Coleridge Of England"
wv
The Washington correspondent of
the Troy Times somewhat extrava.
gantly and indecorously remarks; "The
utter recklessness of the female portion
of Washington society is often re-
marked by persons of experience.
There is freedom among strangers
that is never shown by the well-mean-
ing young women of other cities. So
ciety is fully as Kaleidoscope as poll
tics. You do not always know who Is
who in either sphere, and great deal
is taken for granted. The modes of
flirting which are known in the North
and which are supposed to be inno-
cent, though to some extent mischiev-
Gus, are altogether too slow for Wash,
ington a great many cheeky young
society men here are In the habit of
introducing themselves to ladies,
and they are not often snubbed.
Women who move in respectable
circles are accustomed to send notes
TO members of Congress with whom
they have no acquaintanceship solicit
ing private interviews Usually they
want an office, but are not above nc
cepting gifts from these men. 1T is very
difficult TO draw the line between the
good and the bad, Anybody attempt
ing to do so is apt TO become terribly
confused, Probably the great mass of
people here, as in other places, mean
well, but they are extremely reckless in
their social conduct. These remarks
are not intended to reflect upon the vir-
tue, but upon the discretion of the
female population of Washington.
Ladies of good standing here do with
impunity things which would cause
them to be socially ostraclsed in other
cities,
~
Said a railroad man in the hearing of
the Chicago -NaH the other day: John
King, president Of the Erie Road, is
the best penman know Of. 1t comes
from his long career at book keeping.
His letters are beautiful examples of a
lost art, He could, If he chose, write
cards in hotel lcorridor and sell them.
There is not, probably, in all the thou
sands of ok.keepers in the Erie EN-
| ploy one who could keep neater sci
of books than its president. He began
as a.cerk in the Adams Express office,
and began railroading at the bottom.
lie was slight in figure, good many
years ago. and married a distant rela,
tive of the CARROTS. His manage.
ment Of the Ohio Il Mississippi
made II good deal of money
Tor the DreXel, Morgan II Co. crowd
and they have backed him ever since,