The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-09-21
COSTLY JUDICIAL GOWNS.
The Elaborate Wardrobes Which the Eng
lish Judges Require.
Westminster Budget. }

| Westminster Budget.
| The country, when it pays its judges
e5, 900 year, and perhaps grumbles a
little at the bill, has no idea that heavy
tax in the shape of silk, ermine and
horsehair the unfortunate man has to
nav at the outset in order merely to cut
presentable figure in her majesty
courts A few facts, CLEANED flom that
we'll -known law wig and robe maker,
Burton Rayenscroft, of Searle street,
Lincoln's Inn, cannot fail therefore, to
be of interest
The use of the wig, so far from show
| ing signs of decay has been speedily on
the increase. 1t is worn in most colonial
courts. even in the hottest climates; and
though Canada, infected possibly by the
leveling propensities of the United States,
will have none of it, the wig has made
it's way into British Columbia. and by
all appearance means to stay there.
| Mr.. Ravenscroft's house of business was
rebuilt as lately as 1879, but it still has
an old world air about it. In the snug
fitting room hung round with autograph
portraits of legal WORTHLESS, at the back OF
the shop, most, if not all, Of the present
bench have given Mr.. Ravenscroft sit
| ting and have had full-dress 'prink
in front of the large looking glass on the
wall before venturing to make their first
appearance in court. "In that chair, -
says Mr.. Ravenscoft, the late Lord Sell
borne has sat many and many a time
while have cut his hair''-for the judges
allow no one else to touch their learned
locks "What does it cost newly ap-
pointed judge to rig himself self out"' you
speaking This leads to the question
how many robes judge requires and at
what times and seasons he must wear
them.
1t seems that judge of the queen S
bench division of the high court needs
in all some half dozen changes OF raiment.
These are:
1. The full-dress state robe.
q The same for summer use, slate
colored silk taking the place of the
ermine.
5. The ordinary scarlet gown fastened
at the waist by a sash or girdle of black
silk, which is worn by the judge in
criminal courts.
| 4. The winter robe and hood of black
cloth, trimmed with emine, worn by the
judges when sitting in banc in the
queens bench division of the high court
during Michaelmas and Hilary terms
| 5. The summer robe of dark purple
cloth, lined with a peculiar shot-silk,
known as Judges silk, of delicate
hue, something between salmon color and
puce. With it is worn the tippet or
''gun case'' of scarlet cloth from the right
| shoulder to the left side, held in by the
sash or girdle. This is the regulation
costume in banc for Easter and Trinity
| terms. When sitting at Nisi Prius on
circuit, the hood is discarded.
6. A gown of plain black silk, worn by
all chancery judges, and by some OF the
queens bench judges at Nisi Prius.
The lord chief Justices outfit Is even
more elaborate and costly. In addition
| to the robes worn by the puisine judges
of his court his lordship wears with his
state robes the beautiful chased ''collar of
S. So OF "Esses,'' which /; of great
antiquity, dating back at the least to
loom, which, after some not very credit
able disputes, has been decided to go with
the office. The letters IS. So run
| through the design. Their meaning has
/ been much debated. The better opinion
seems to be that they represent the words
"Sancti Spiritus," theory to which the
frequent adoption of this tile by orders
| of chiyalry, such as the Saint EspriG,
founded by Henry III of France, and the
Panel Order of the Holy Ghost, appears
to lend color,
at court, has further, a rich gown and
train of black satin damask, trimmed
| with silk, lace and tufts, worn over court
dress Only the highest judges need to
| be presented at court. Lord Russell of
Killowen was presented in this costume
at her majesty's drawing room only a
| few weeks ago.
| A Judges full-d1ess for evening is a
court suit of black velvet, with ruffies
and tucker of lace, sword and gilt buck
les. At Mansion House banquets, or
when dining with a bishop or other dig
nitary on circuit, he wears a black silk
gown with bob-wig over court dress, but
| no sword. For mourning, public and
private, both judges and queen counsel S
wear bands and cuffs of thin white crepe.
The lord chancellor, the speaker of the
house of commons, the chancellor of the
lords justices of appeal and the president
of the probate, divorce and admiralty
division, wear on state occasions mag
niflcent robe and train of black satin
damask heavily embroidered with gold
thread the cost of which is e150. The
tucker and ruffiles of fine lace cost from
two five guineas, according to quality.
For ordinary purposes the chancery and
appeal judges wear plain black silk.
it remains to add a few words about
one small but very importatn5 item Of a
| Judges outtt-the terrible 'senetnce
cap'-the black cap of common par
lance. Its history is curious, In pre-
reformation times it was the habitual
head covering of a bishop. The judge S
cap is supposed, according to this pjctur-
esaue theory, to have passed. from the
heads of the great churchmon statesmen
to their lay successors, and so to have be-
come an appendage of the judicial office.
Until wigs came into fashion the cap
was habitually worn by the judges.
Chief Justice Coke (temp. JAG. y wears
* over the sergeant's Golf in his portrait
in tho Inner Tomplo Hall. The cap i