New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-23

Thoroughly modern as the processes OF law
are in France they nevertheless retain many
features Of former times. Courts could not be
held at all e judges and advocates rebcl1ed
against the caps and robes which they are no"
proud 20 wear The human nature beneath the
robes IS much the same as thai shown III 'Iie less
conventional attire of American lawyers II
Their, we're much in the so-cailed clothes phllos-
nnhy the uniformity in outward appearance OF
French men at law should be much a sign of
g. ward conservatism as the Irregularities OF dress
i, America should be Of radicasm and change
But law and lawyers in France are as alert 10
the advances Of science as those of any nation.
The one chapter in this volume on the registra-
ton and photographng OF criminals VIII Sho"
how modern the methods are. The DOCK Is the
work OF many hards. Mr.. Morarty mas UahS-
lated u with the assistance Of two other gentle
men familiar with the technicanties or po'h
French and English law. But the original WORK,
40 palois de Justice de Paris" was the result of
collaboration among certain members or the Az
ISOLATION Of Journalists attached TO the Paris
law courts These members describe afecuoh-
atelv the association to which they belong They
o,, u n family which takes the young new
co-por hv the hand guides his first steps through
Tho Palace Of Justice and unfolds to him the
socrets Of legal life 1t aids his work. II replaces
him when absent. 1t even cares Tor MN "heh H.
They are duly proud Of the labyrinth Which Is
oouoa Tho Palace Of Justice and betray the high
est delight In their knowledge OF the intrcacleS
of the business transacted there.
Something has been said on occasion ABOUT 'he
iii, of relirion IN Paris But do Americans
onon court with a solemn religious service! mat
a. sbou,d be done in France seems trife strange
even to the writer's Of this book our ia"!''9
are scentics nowadays" they exclaim. ana they
st
,,rha,;evers would not for anything in the World
ont their bread without having first made
mid sign Of the cross over the loaf with the
end of the knife COunsellOrs. judges. attorneys
general and their assistants. acNoca''S' eN1.H
ono who bears a name known To the bench OF 'He
har attends the Red Mass at the opening Oh 'ne
,ecaI ,ear" For an hour or so on one gay i'll 'i'e
,,aar the wonderful Sainte-Chapene brlgh'ehs up
The autumn sun shines dimly with memo"
,ustre through the ancient glass sol III 'ace"V'N
90 Stone casting glimmerng shadows in violet
nod yellow and blue over the walls, columns ana
orcbes If the interior. The crowd below Is a
,1o,o ~ scarlet tempered here and there by the
,h,,a olearn of ernine. RED is the robe or the
Cord,nalArchhishop Of Paris as he stanoS ny
bic Golden chair in front of the illuminated hish
altar. red are the gowns Of the c"Uhselo'S Va
the Supreme Court the right; red the iiVn
hers of the Court Of Appeal on the leI'' 'ou ''''
Announcement who stands behlno' reu 'n'
advoca tes- general. and red their depuueS-"'i -
ono blaze Of red And this flaming foregrouliu
&c enphasized by contrast with the rows OH io"
os magistrates in black, who crowd the redl VI
~ chanel After the mass the assembagc
forms in a procession which makes us way -
the first chamber of the Court of Appeal. Inc
..u..o, r,oves with the strictest regard Tor
.oooaoroe eft is like the judicial history OF
ho,f century unfolding itself in a panorama
A, tho bead came the veterans Of old time ph""-
toms Of ancient judges. who make an eHort u
rar,ain majestic beneath the weight OF years
Their cheeks are hairless and pihcheo' 'nei
small ewes sunk deep in the ORBITS q "
white hairs straggle from beneath 'heiI 'aP''
under which one can picture the pohsheu VIM
crown Their character, their worship oi u"
dit;on and form, may be read in the s'och "'''0''
..,..or,, +ba,r necks; rising high above the col
lar Of the coat and stiffenng the ruseeu w
,,.r,r,lea head. After them comes the next
a,,or tho figure is stout gray whiskers
fringe the pale cheeks. the lips are set cloSc-
hoyed crafty and have a look OF wearhesS'
a. cravat is less vOluminous, the step hrHl"'
with the Judges Of the Court Tribunal appears
tho modern face; the head erect, the eye DrlEn''
tho sceptical mouth wears a slight sh1he' i"'
object of this journey to the chamoeI Vi ''0
court of Appeal is TO complete the opening eA-
erc,ses Of the year by attending IN solemn a"u'-
enca 70 a thesis by an Acknowledgement on soi"'
nont of law This address always eh"S VIZ"
IDS In memory of the magistrates who died
during the preceding year Thus the Ju"c'di
wear begns on that island of the Seine whch -
,,on.r &c the cite. more than half Of which IS
oocun,ed nv the Palace OF Justice, the Prefecture
., police and the Tribunal Of Commerce. Inc
6rst ~ these takes it's name from the fact that
A. was once a residence of the kings oil frdI'Ce'
Having thus made the courts accessible ~ 'he
reader. the reporters describe every phase Oh ule
work that goes on IN them. Inc lhtrlcacleS
and annoyances and delays Of a modern lawsuit
era presented at the outset by way or warning
Then the appearance OF the courts III Nac@uoi
time the picturesque scenes of the rooing rooms
the customary episodes Of legal and judicial HE
all receive attention. The reader IS led INTO
80, corner and Granny Of the ancient home of
law in Paris He has glimpses or the cen "heie
Marie Antoinette passed her last days and of
the neighboring apartment in which Robes
n,erre awaited death He looks in fancy at many
,,ocos which were he even a Partisan, he could
NOT see with his bodily eyes. If there be any
custom that Is a relic of antiquity he s wit
ress m IT, He may watch the auction lights
Gaming and going out like the candles In Plu-
to,s cavern every instant They are reminis-
cence of ancient times and useful still. On a
huge silver candlestck is placed sort OF iron
box above which is an upright needle 10 this
needle Is fixed a dminutve taper, like wax
caterpillar which burns for few seconds and
is replaced as soon as It is out by another light
ed at a candle close by" Every bid must await
the burning OF three Of these tiny candles; ard
SO with the noise of bidding in the famous auc-
tion-room where real estate is sold Is heard a
frequent cry equivalent to last light And
when three tapers have burned out before new
bidder raises his voice the property belongs TO
him who bid last, or rather TO his client.
popularity of this auctior-room IS that 1t Is
presided over by judge and that no bids can be
made except by a solicitor.
The reader is taken through tho Civil Court,
the Court OF Appeal and the Court Of Cessation.