The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-07
CAPITAL LETTER.
ssolno Items Of Interest About the
Supreme Court Chamber.
Eroiicsome Pages Who Played Baii with.
5n FITS Sacrrd Precincts-A Glance
ne the Justices Eooms-Row
the Court Is Opcncd.
kspeclal Correspondence


T'nore was y sound of revclry. hilar.
ity, loud laughter, hand clapping,
and sta nping of feet in the sombcr. dig
niticd and usually quiet Supreme Court
room at the capitol. Pushing aside the
light green b;.izo doors and entering tho
room an unusual spectacle presented it,
self There wore three pages from the
Senate, ono standing in the central chair
which is usually occupied by the Chief
Justice, and another boy in each Of tho
two opposite corners. They had rc~u-
lation baseball and we're throwing it
back and forth around the chamber.
lOccasioua..y one Of the boys would mufr
tho lr.n. and it would thwack either
again. The vail oi The Supreme Court
room a. ;l--;iirs. ON" OF tho painted por-
'traita S...i i t..ml probably never oc-
icurro1 IN that room before, and it is
quito cor,..in i; VIII never occur again.
The allrls OF the court heard tho ro;sr.
and th' unusual sounds OF revcl,v. ana
called capital policeman. who csco.t-
cd tho boys back to their places upon
tho floor Of the Senate, and reported
thor conduct to Father Bassctt.
Alter the disappearance OF the BOYS
tho oicTk of thc court conducted your
correspondent through the inncrmost
chambers and rccesscs OF that portion
OF tho Capitol which is occupied by the
august Judicial Tribune: until we stood
within precincts seldom seen bv anv
sayo the Justices of the Supreme Court.
their officers and attaches The Offices
Of tho c}crls are common property, open
70 everybody, from the President or At
toTrcy-(icncral down to the laborcrs and
haot-liaclls. The court chamber in
with al arguments are heard and
whclu opinions arc delivered. and also
tho Marshal'S Office arc open to the gcn-
cral public. No man or woman. howcv-
or, passes beyond the boundaries or
thoso rooms without danger Of being
overwhelmed with the righteous Indg-
nation Of the court and of is employees.
F'olr The private Office OF the clerk :.
very narrow passage leads into what is
know as the 'robing-room" This rob
ing room comprises two apartments. ono
OF which is very poorly furnished with
old-iaSnioncd chairs and other furniture
whioh has boon in the Capitol Tor great
many Yoars and has boon rejected for
use IN any other place. The carpet
upon Tic floor Of this room. however. is
con :lr;.tiycly new. 1t has been there
Tor sour years now and replaced ono
which Lad been in service for thirty-two
years Think OF that, yc people who de-
sire an economical Government. There
IS ii Plain table two old lounges of the
ancient hair-cloth pattern and chairs OF
n similar style. Tho wall ot the room
al tho west end is partially covered with
very large portrait OF Chief Justice
Marshall. which is 4 lful copy OF the
original painting in Warrcnton. Va.
Upon the north wall OF this room is
another portrait Of Marshall which was
given TO the court in tho will of the late
Ehiot Justice Salmon j. Chase There
is also a portrait of Chief Justice fancy.
who delivered the celebrated Drcd Scott
decision.
~ one corner OF the. room there is Il
very Gcod crayon sketch OF Lord Chief
'bnstirc Cocridgc OF Great britain
Upon bins crayon is the following in
soription: Respectfully presented to
lbo judges of The Supreme Court at
Washington by the Lord Chief Justice OF
Epgland,. in grateful memory OF tho
honor conferred ON him by them on the
l0th ol October, lSs3.'' III Il lower cor
nor 81 the crayon portrait is the auto
graph Of Chief Justice Colcridgc. I-pon
tho date named in the inscription Lord
Eojeridgc was invited TO Il scat uDon the
supreme Bench next 10 tllat.of the Chief
Justice. In this roDing-rooni there is also
spiutarc OF cXPrcsidcnt Lincoln. and Of
Ioh5a Jay the first United States Su-
yircnc Judge
There was AZ ono Time considerable