The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-06
COSTLY JUDICIAL GOWNS.
The Elaborate WardrObes Which
the English Judges Require.

the English Judges Require.
From the Westminster Budget.
The country. when it pays its judges
5000 year. and perhaps grumbles a little
at the bills. has no idea what a heavy tax
in the shape of silk, ermine and horsehair
the unfortunate man has to pay at the
outset in order merely 10 cut presentable
figure in her majesty's courts. a few
facts, CLEANED from that well-known law
wig and robe maker, Burton Ravenscroft,
of 3 Searle street, Lincoln's Inn. cannot
fail. therefore. TO he of interest
The use Of the wig so far from showing
signs Of decay. has been steadily on the
increase. 1t is worn in most colonial
courts, even in the hottest climates; and
though Canada, infected possibly by tho
leveling propensities OF the United States
will nave none Of it. the wig has made
its way into British Columbia, and by all
appearance means TO stay there.
MT. Ravenscrofts house Of business was
rebuilt as lately as 1876. but it sim has an
OLD wcrla air about 1t. In the snug fitting
room, hung round with autograph por-
traits 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 a full-dress 'prink
in front of the large looklngslass on the
wall before venturing to make their first
appearance in court. IN that chair
says Mir. Ravenscroft, the late Lord Sell
borne has set many a time while l have
cut his hair" for the judges allow no
ono else to touch their learned locks.
what does il cost a newly appointed
judge TO rig himself out2' you inquire.
"Wen, a bout 600, roughly speaking. This
leads to the question how many robes
q md AT rg-h 4 nd
seasons he must wear them. 1t seems
that a judge of the queens bench division
OF the high court needs in all some half
dozen changes Of raiment. These are:
l. The full-dress state robs.
,. The same for summer use, slate-col-
ored silk taking the place of the ermine.
3. The ordinary scarlet gown. fastened
at the waist by a sash or giTdle of black
silk, which is worn by the judge in Grim
inal courts
l. The winter robe and hood of black
cloth, trimmed with ermine, worn by the
judges when sitting in banc in the
queens bench division of the high court
during Nichaelmas and Hilary terms.
5: The summer robe of dark purple cloth
lined with a peculiar shot-silk, known as
Judges silk" of a delicate hue. some
thing between salmon color and puce.
With ii is worn the tippet or gun case"
of scarlet cloth from the right shoulder
to the left side held in by the sash or gir-
die This is the regulation costume in banc
for Easter and Trinity terms. When sit
ting at Nisi Prius on circuit the hood is
discarded.
g. 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 puisne judges of
his court his lordship wears with his
state robes the beautiful chased collar
OF 5. S, or "Esses," which is Of great an
tiquity. dating back at the least to the
reign of Henry VI. This is an heirloom,
which, after some not very creditable dis
putes has been decided TO go with the
office. The letters IS. s." run through
the design. Their meaning has been
much debated. The better opinion seems
to be that they represent the words Sane
ii Spiritus," a theory to which the fire.
quent adoption of this title by orders of
chivalry, such as the Saint Esprit, found
ed by Henry III of France, and the Pa
pal order of the Holy Ghost, appears to
lend some color.
The lord chief justice, when he appears
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 Rus
ell of Killowen was presented in this COS
tune at her majestys drawing room only
a few weeks ago.
A judges full dress for evening Is a
court suit of black velvet, with ruffes
and tucker of lace, sword and gilt
buckles. At Mansion house banquets.
or when dining with bishop or other dig
nitary on circuit, he wears a black silk
gown with a bob-wig over court dress,
but no sword. For mourning, public and
private, both judges and queens counsel
wear bands and cuffs of thin white crepe.
The lord chancellor, the speaker of the
House of Commons, the chancellor of the
eXchequer, the master of the rolls, the
lords justices of appeal and the presi-
dent of tho probate, divorce and admiral
~ division, wear on state occasions a
magnificent robe and train of black satin
damask heavily embroidered with gold
thread. the cost of which is $50. The
tucker and ruffles of fine lace cost from
two to five guineas. according to quality.
For ordinary purposes the chanceTy and
appeal judges wear plain black silk.
1t remains to add a few words about
one small but very important item of a
judges outfit-the terrible sentence
cap"-the black cap of common parlanee.
Its history is curious. In pre-reformation
times it was the habitual head covering
of bishop. The judges cap is suppos-
cd, according to this picturesque theory,