The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-09
DRESSING FOR THE JURY.
How Lawyers Advise Women TO Be
GOWntd.
Cases Won by Costumes-To be Pretty,
But subdued, is the Cue-Abe Hum
mel Sends His Clients Home if Their
Clothes DID Not Suit Him.

view OK Dec e----'M nat lnulelce mas
a woman's face. figure or dress over a
jury, before which she is brought for
judgment? How should woman dress
in order TO win the sympathies of a judge
and Jury2 In what style and color? These
are the questions have been asking the
most prominent lawyers in New York
city.
careful inspection Of my wardrobe
before setting out on this embassy re-
suited in the selection Of a black MORE
silk, figured in half moons. 1t was my
best and newest, silk lined and stiffen-
ed with crinoline so that it stood out
beautifully, as it should. The skirt was
perfectly plain and the waist also. ex-
eept for a small yoke of old-rose silk
covered with a heavy piece of black
lace. The sleeves were big, of course,
with long, tight cuffs at the wrists. A
black MORE cape with square shoulders
and rolling high collar had a very narrow
trimming of fur and was lined with
silk figured delicately in old rose. Ny
bonnet was small. with bows of dark
green and old rose velvet l added
pair Of old-rose gloves stitched with white,
tied on new black veil and sailed forth
quite content with my appearance.
ITS almost a pity" I thought. that
I have no divorce or breach of promise
suit to bring for myself, for may never
look so well again. The first lawyer TO
whom I put my query: What power has
dress over jury?" looked at me quizzi-
cally.
Fifty per cent. of the cases in which
women are concerned are won or lost"
said he, by costume. Suppose l take
your own dress for an example You
would do well on the witness stand, but
your clothes are rather too gay
Why, sir, there is hardly. any color
in my gown. You see nothing but black
unless | throw back my cape" 1 an
swered. ~
Yes, I know that, but it would be bet
ter to wear plain silk. In a jury's eye
those watered figures make it fiashy. A
plain silk suggests modesty. The cape is
perfect with the exception of the fur; that
makes you loud ~
But il is winter"
Il can't help that. You should wear no
jewelry. ether
But have on none that you can see;
my rings are covered by the gloves"
The chain-that gold chain--take it off
IT looks like a fad"
1T is attached to my glasses. I need
them"
Then wear black cord. as 1 do. / use
nothing, but cord for my watch as we'll
A collar button is all the jewelry 1 put
on, unless it may be ring occasionally,
when I go TO the house of the man who
gave il to me.
That feather on the top Of your bon
net should come ,of il makes you too
tail, and besides II is bright in color and
the ribbons are too gay. A jury does not
like bright colors. Blacks and grays and
browns appeal to their feelings. Your
gloves are too light. Your sleeves are too
big at the tops and absurdly tight at the
wrists.
Elm such a costume jury would set
you down Immediately as a smart in
telligent woman, quite capable of taking
care of yourself even when in trouble,
hence there would be very little pity for
you. The jury's attention would be given
wholly TO the evidence, and if it went
against you, your independence and up-to-
date look would make it the easier to de-
eide against you.
"Starched petticoats and dresses that
rustic are offensive to a jury. Such things
often indicate a shallow desire for dress,
frail vanity, self-absorption and lot
more things that settle in the mind of the
juror in spite Of himself what woman is
before a word has been spoken for or
against her"
1T seems wrong to judge one So"
mistakes are made, perhaps, but in the
long run dress tells more than the face.
Dress tells the station in life. With the
station goes the environments and the
temptations. Do you see? A long story
is revealed to the juror the minute he gets
one look at you. Ali if the women knew
they would dress with more care--and they
would win more cases."
At the office of Howe & Hummel, Mr.
Hummel looked me over from top to toe,
then gave himself up to the subject as if
1t were one that thoroughly interested
him aif
IAN experience of twenty years has
taught me-" said he, that simplicity and
artlessness, either in action or in speech,
weigh very much in the scale of the aver
age mans judgment of a woman. 1 believe
that before a jury, as in every day life,
the young woman who acts as she is, who
is dressed in the dress of the lady with
out ostentation, without sIeeffort to
have it appear that she is en-
deavoring, in the vulgar parlance of the
day, to catch some one, in the long run
wins the average juror. Such a woman,
all statements to the contrary notwith-
standing, is one possessing reason, clear
Medicines, no prejudiees and a good COM
mon sense application to the issue in
volved,"
SHOULD she powder and paint?"
Il go very far in my view that face
making is not alone permissible, but it
is absolutely necessary that one of the
gentler sex should do all that art can sug-
gest to increase her beauty. If in a partic-
ular instance an improvement in the pose
of her head, the color of her face or the
scintillant look of her eye can be aided by
a suggestion of artistic makeup l care to
have it announced that the end justifies
the means. Dress wins in ninety-nine
cases in one hundred"
And you have no preference for es-
peciaI colors in dress, blue for example?"
My preference is that a woman who
goes before a court to have issues decided
involving matters which are near and dear
to her should dress in the mode of the
day, preferably in quiet colors Those who
understand themselves thoroughly are
aware of the fact that jewels should not
be worn at all, except under the gas or
electric light in full press.
Il am not so firm in this position as to
say that lady should not wear anything
bright. On the contrary, a tailor-made
suit, with a suggestion of color around
the throat. sufficient to please the eye,
little as it may seem, goes very far to
impress itself on the jury"