The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-09-04
. COURTROOM COSTUMES.
Fine Clothes Employed to Influence the
Judge and Jury.

Pine Clothes Employed Influence the
Judge and Jury.
Although woman's gowns frequent
| lv deserve and receive honorable men
ton. like a brand of balIing-powder at
Il national exhibit, there are only three
times in her life-it may be four if she
is Arnerican-when they are entered
for the blue ribbon, says writer IN the
New York Recorder. These are i'm
portant occasions, and these gowns are
the result OF anxious thought and Ia
borlous research in the fields OF gown
literature First, the dress she wears
as debutante; secondly, the wedding
gown. The third gown is worn by the
young mother when she receives the
relatives and friends who have come to
offer their congratulations to her and
their gifts to her firstborn child. De-
butante, bride and mother! woman
may be all these, and in America she
frequently is something more-a di-
vorcee. Here frocIs are not unimpor-
tant factors, and / am irresistibly re-
minded of tTunllful of dresses l saw
last week which are to play prominent
part in a big divorce case soon.
What a heap of pretty frocks," l
said.
Yes, my friend replied. Horribly
expensive. and couldn't well afford
them. either. but business is business,
you know, these are my stock in trade.
They're very sympathetic gowns, must
say. The designer caught my eye per-
fectly."
"Sylnpathetic gowns. Stock in trade,
What do You mean?" l gasped-
''Nhat do l mean? Why, stupid, these
are to wear at the trial"
''Oh, dear mel All those,'
YES, al those. Now, here's this
black one, said she, talking like Rosina
VoIlcs in one Of her soliloquies. Il
shall wear this the first day. 1t makes
me look pale, and has IL crapy. mourn
full air about it that viii make favor
able first impression ON the court. l
wish them TO understand that the de-
fendant has wrecked my young life.
See?
We'll. this red gown! Doesn't this
bristle all over with determination?
Isn't win or die fluttering from every
fold? / shall wear this the day we
make the biggest fight. 1t looks so ag-
grcssive.
Now here's this white cloth. Very
simple. you observe. Silver girdle.
Broad hat with feathers. Fluffy boa.
Sweet simplicity. Girlish loveliness.
That's for the day my counsel sums up.
THAT gray-sad. dove-colored. Qual1-
erish looking. | shall wear that-with
tears-in case we seem to be getting
beaten.
This is brown cloth 20 wear upon
all the common. ordinary occasions. 1t
is made in sensible way, with this
busincSs-like jacllet. There is a set of
silver tablets goes with it, also n vinai-
grette. The tablets for any random
ideas ! might have which should be in
stantly jotted down, the vinaigrette in
case / should faint. 1t may be necessary
to faint, you know. Some judges are so
obdmate.
This notebook fancy will make a
great hit with the jury. Yes, it did
cost . pretty penny, but l hope the re-
suits will more Unan compensate tor the
outlay.
You see, one of Tcd's strong points
of defense is that | was so extravagant
he couldn't stand it. The idea! Well,
now, any jury of average intelligence
seeing me with this little b.aoll viii
say: Dear me, She couldn't be so aw-
fully extravagant. Such methodical
business-lille habits don't go with eX-
tvagance. No. indeedr
That's what the jury will say. and 1
shall come out with flying colors and
victory perched upon my banners. And
why? Well. OF course, the fact that my
side is right and Ted's is wrong has
something TO do with it, but chiefly,
my dear, chiefly because of my gowns.
THE jury won't know it; the judge
won't know it. When did a man know
anything about a woman or her strate
gies? And. between you and me, the
less they know the better. What they
don't know won't hurt them. and il is
really selfish of woman to worry
man with trivial matters when he has
such grave and important cases on his
mind.
Going? Well. wish me luck with
my gowns. This is my way of casting
bread upon the waters"