The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-27
PREPARED TO WEIGH HUMAN SOULS IN THE BALANCE.

PREPARED TO WEIGH HIMA
1t was long before court opened
much after the Academic quarter; but
who would venture to expect here the
lowly virtue of punctuality? The pub
lie waited silent and dOCile. ChaSte.
temple-like, the noble proportions and
discreet light of the high and oblong
judgment hall tended to restrain un
seemly chatter. Even the careless, and
such as had strayed in from mere curl
osity, became gradually hushed ana
aStonished at their own elevated senti-
ments, as they vaguely meditated upon
the tranSCendental wisdom permeat-
ing the atmosphere: gazed ingenious
ly upon those lofty precincts drenched
as it We're, in that virtue which we
deem the most godlike attribute of
man: and stared meekly at the empty,
but portentouS judges daiS across the
opposite end of the room where, be-
hind a fine railing of demarcaton,
We're a long and vastly erudite table
and five magisteral Gothic chairs-a
sort of Sinai in carved oak.
High above the vulgar. a row of small
loges. skirtng the hall and entered
by glass doors from the gallery with
out, We're occupied by privileged guests;
those favored by great lights of the
tribunal, or strangers of distinction
Peradventure astute men in royal liv-
cry might also unlock loge doors for
travellers who presented no credentials
beyond a deft, swift movement of the
hand. 1t is not difficult to guess why
the great statue of Justice in that gal
lery preferred to wear a bandage over
her eyes.
The vast machinery began, at length,
to reVolve. Two cleaning sentinels
swung open the great doors on the
right. and stood on guard. A pause
long enough to whet the pubic's appe-
tite for a felon of large dimensions A
stir. Should, then, culprit let the
righteous wait? To stalwart blond
warriors successfully conveyed the
malefactor in, and deposited him in a
peW-like receptacle against the right
wall; mild-eyed, white-haired old
peasant, walking with extreme diff
Guilty, who shrank small and notion
less into the corner and stared at the
floor.
His counsel, a rather young augur
with pleasant eyes, entered i'm black
gown and cap, seated himself on his
portfolio and studied Acts with COM
mendably absorbed expression. Pres
entity, more stout guards untinchingly
did their duty, swung open other doors,
ushered in the Prosecutor for the Crown
who, also in "Talar and Barrett" took
his place at the right of the dias, and
bent with impressive intentness over
his papers. Strongly guarded, a herd
of i,,tN l,n,
stamped in. The clerk, likewise, capped
goWned, and immensely preoccupied,
took the left chair on the dais.
Finally, a phalanX of three caps and
gowns, together advanced with dra-
matte effect from what may be desig-
mated purely for CONFERENCE.-The
stage back, and the president of the
Tribunal, and two other species of
learned judge, filled. with amplitude of
person and sombra dignity, the vacuum
in the center, so that five black -robed
figures, prepared to weigh human souls
in the balance, now lOOmod from that
Judgment-seat and presented Il chastity
likeness to Rhadamanthus, Minos, and
AeaCus. fanked by two more sinister
shapes like unto them. a flock of tim
Orus Witnesses--all Villagers--under
shalled to their seats, back to the public,
and merciiessly facing these five
gentlemen eXhalirg subterranean
gloom.
Nothing in point of fact had as yet
transpired The participants had but
assembled. Yet, already, the wonder
ing layman was convinced of three
Things; that the Law had indeed other
,I
unimpressiVe, unhistrionic ways of
coming into rooms and sitting down
among our ellow-creatures, quite
simply, as if nought depended on the
action; that the armed force in that
building in time Of peace could-un-
less it looks belied it-withstand an
invasion of ban barlans; and that il one
We're personally led innocent before
ment well might hypnotic one into
confessing uninterrupted ana un-
dreamed Of crimes. Still the world
moves; the Council of Three and the
"Nehmgericht" wore masks-one patch
| of black prognosticatiOn more
Meanwhile, the thankless old man
for whom all this pageant was unfold
ed, sat small, humble and unheeding in
his corner, and never raised his eyes
or had any proper appreciation of the
complicated and imposing apparatus in
movement at the moment, solely fol
him: never once thought of the
| enormous expenses of that Temple OF
Justice, the Honorarum Of each of the
five Sublimities, and the salaries of the
vassals, all accruing during the time
| required for his case, in a certain sense
| exclusively ON his account-that, in
short, justice might be done him.
Eighteen things now happened In due
course; all indispensable beyond a
doubt, as that which had preceded, on