The morning call., 1894-12-14
COSTLY GOWNS.
Worn on Official Occasions by JUS
tees of the Supreme Court.

A Justice pays as much for his robe of Office
as he would pay for handsome suit of cloth.
Ing. There is fixed price for the gown-a
price which does not vary with the fluctuations
in the duties on silk. One woman has made all
the Justices gowns for forty years, and her in
variable price for one is 800. Like the tailors
who make a specially of outfits for officers OF
the army and navy she knows just what are
the requirements of a Justices gown, and all
hat her customer has to be concerned about is
the nj. The gown must set well across the
shoulders, and it should reach from the neck
10 the heels; but il should not drag on the floor
saw floor because. except on Inauguration
day. the Justice does not wear his gown out of
doors. When he attends an official dinner or
reception at the While House, he wears the
garb of everyday life; even when he calls on the
President on the opening day of the courts
session, he goes in the clothes he would wear
at the breakfast table. If you wish one OF the
Justices at his home OF an evening, you would
find a pleasant, rather off-hand man, in
froek coat with none OF the solemnlty of
manner that cloaks the Justices when they
are on the bench. The Supreme Court JUS
tices are by no means uuapproachabe. They
are, in fact considered very jolly after-dnner
companions, and they are in great demand in
social Washington. The Justice wears his
robe only when the Supreme Court, as body
is participating in some official ceremony He
may 90 gowned TO a funeral, IL IL is an official
funeral. He wears 1t at the Inauguration of q
IIoSIuoul, uub OIuIudTlly 10 puts III on IN llS
robing-room in the morning, and takes it off
in the robing-room at dusk He does not wear
ii even IN the consulting room, so there is very
little wear and tar on 1t. and one robe will
outlast several suits OF clothing.
According to the technical description OF II,
the Judges robe is made of large, straight
widths of silk. 1t is three and quarter yards
wide at the bottom. II has a narrow hem
around The bottom and broad hem down the
front II is gagged at the top TO yoke, which
is short on the shoulders and forms deep
scallop at the back. The flowing sleeves are a
yard and quarter wide and reach 10 The wrist
Justice usually accepts his first gown with
out question. but be grows older on
the bench he is as fussy about the fit of
the garment as young woman with her
first ball-dress. Having donned their robes
with the aid OF the old northumberland they
are old enough to be conspicuous even ID his
city OF long service-the Justices, at few
minutes before noon, cross the hall 10 the ante
room of the court The transit OF the Justices
is matter OF daily interest and wonder at the
Capitol. It Is the signal for a rad-a very sub
dued, dignified radon the door of the court
room, where dOorkeeper sits, solemnly
manipulating the swinging door with cord
Only so many people are admitted TO the court
room, and the number is small. There are but
few lows of benches outside the Enclosure
reserved for the members of the bar. No
crowding of the courtroom is permitted.-St.
Louis Republic.