The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-02


Clerk McKenuey kindly fshed the
first Of these dockets and minutes out Of
he vault for me. and an hour or two
were very pleasantly spent in an exam
nation Of them. AS | leafed through
Tie first minute book a sudden and ire
sistible inclination 10 snceze came upon
me. and when | had resumed a state OF
calmncss Justice Bradley, who happened
in the clerk Office at that moment, stop
ped and smiiingly remarked:
Young man. see you have found
some Of Chief Justice Jays snuff.
"What did he meant" ] asked Of Clerk
McKcnney, as the little old justice, the
veteran Of the court, passed on toward
the court room.
"He MEANS" said Mr.. Mckinney.
that in turning over the leaves Of the
old book you have disturbed some Of the
snuff which the first chief justice, John
Jay. is supposed TO have dropped be
tween the leaves a century ago. l have
heard it said that Chief Justice Jay was
am mvcterate user of snuff, and l know
there is good old snuff between the
leaves Of that book, but do not know
that il is a part Of the same snuff which
the chief Justice carried in his snuff box.
Perhaps it is. At any rate, that is one
Of Justice Bradley's favorite jokes, and
he never fails to get it OF on any one
whom he catches sneezing with the an
cient tome before him."
There was something so delicious in
tho experience Of sneezing with snuff
which the first chief justice Of the United
States had dropped from his box a cen
fury ago that / eagerly turned the leaves
for another dose. and, being disappointed
came 10 the conclusion that possibly jus
ticc Bradley, who is somewhat of joker.
may have placed that snuff there himself
FOR purposes Of his own.
Here" said Clerk McKenney, care
the minutes Of the first session Of the
court. Notice with what perfect black
ink it is written, and in what a beautiful
hand It is as plain as printing. You
will notice. also, that the first clerk used
the phrase supreme judicial court Of the
United States lnafew days he dropped
that word judicial, for which there was
no authority in law. / may add that
with the exception Of one or two little
things like that the forms now used in
the court are substantially those used by
the first court a hundred years ago OF
course we iavca greater variety of forms
now, but practically all Of the old ones
are still followed. There is no depart
ntof the Federal government in which
traditions are so religiously followed as
in this court, and right good old forms
they are, too"
Tie first page Of this minute book
reads as follows:
~ the supreme judicial court Of the United
States. begun end held az New York (being the
seat OF International govcrumen). on the first Mon
day OF February. and ON the first day Of said
month, ammo Domini 1900
Present:
The Honorable joins JAY, Esq, Chief Justice.
The uunorabes WILLIAM CUSHING and JANE
WILSON EsQs, Associate Justices
This being the day assigned by law for com
mcnring the frst sessions Of the supreme court
OF the United States, and q sufficient number OF
the Justices not being convened, the court is al
1ouruod by the Justices now present until tomor
row az one OF the clock in the afternoon
On the following day. Tuesday, Feb
.. Chief Justice JAY and Associate Jus
ficas Cushing Wilson and Blair were