The record-union., 1897-07-27
STR0LLS ABOUT LIVERPOOL.
THEATRICAL DISPLAYS AT THE
OPENING OF COURTS.

OPENING OF COURTS.
American Oysters e Luxury-Ar-
rangements for Landing Pas
eengers and Baggage at the
Great Liverpool Landing Stage
A City Like Philadelphia of
Thirty Years Ago.
That American may count himself
fortunate who arrives in Liverpool
when the Assizes are in session. He
soon learns that We do not in the least
Know how to conduct a court in our
country. 1t is not necessary for him
even TO go into the big Courthouse with
the pillars in front. for a large part of
the opening ceremony is done in public
Tor the impressment of the people
The first part of the show that I saw
encountered in the street one morning
as l was walking up toward the North
western Hotel and I hope it is not
Speaking too lightly of so solemn a
function to say that I thought l had
run across a walking advertisement of
some circus company. It was a pro-
cession of about twenty men in double
file marching with the swinging step
of men who know how much depends
upon them, and who intend to do their
whole duty at all hazards. Each man
Wore a blue cape Ornamented with a
dozen horizontal white stripes around
It, and each carried either a long spear
or a long white wand The spears
looked suspiciously like the tin-headed
spears we see on the stage, and the
whole turnout had a theatrical appear
ance. But they were good, solid men
In high hats, and as they did not seem
disposed to turn out for me, l COM
promised the matter by getting out
of their way.
A moment later I was in a neighbor-
ing tobacco store buying some very
good cigars from the Philippine Islands.
What was that remarkable process
sion that just went down the street?'
I asked the cigar man.
Those We're the Sheriff's men," he
answered. They go to fetch the Sher-
iff, and the Sheriff fetches the Judge.
state coach before long to open
court"
AS the big windows of the North
Westerns smoking room command a
fine view of the Courthouse steps, L
could find no more comfortable place
than that to watch the arrival OF his
Lordship. BY the time I arrived there
two more of the striped-cloak men were
marching abreast UP and down one OF
the landings on the Courthouse steps
But these We're evidently men of su-
perior caste. for each of them wore a
small apron, like a Masonic apron,
bearing some device in print or en-
broidery A dozen policemen were
there. too. on the steps, and many OF
the people We're beginning to gather on
each side of the central entrance
Presently the procession that had
marched down the street marched back
again. and the men in striped capes
made two lines down the long steps
leaving ample space between the hnes
for a dozen Judges to pass through
Each man still held his spear or MS
white wand, and one big man, also IN
a striped cape, stationed himself IN the
middle at the top of the steps, working
himself about and shifting his feet Tor
secure standing, like a baseball pitcher.
From the frequent anxious looks UP the
street it was easy to see from which
direction the Judge was expected.
This brave showing of spears1nen and
police naturally caused a great increase
in the crowd People seemed utterly
unable to pass by. The spearsmen We're
sufficiently magnetic to attract every
hodv within sight In ten minutes
thousand people were gathered ON the
steps. on the portico, and around the
two equestrian statues in front, out
the central space leading up to the Dig
front doors was kept clear for his LORD
ship.
A QUEENS COUNSEL" GETS
THERE.
Tn the long wait that followed there
came a diversion in the form Of a ham
SON. which drove boldly up TO the Ioot
of the long flight of steps. A brave
cabby that, who dare drive INTO the
sacred precincts. But cabby knew what
he was about, as cabbies generaiiy 90.
ont stepped a tall gentleman, dressed
in black. in a high hat, of course;
and down ran two young fellows ana
began to unload the CAP OF IlS IIelShI
of green bags and leather bags, and
bundles of papers. by the arnfuI
Though it was all in pantomime, 1t was
easv to see what it meant. The gem
tleman in black was one of the law
yers-a Queens counsel most likely
and the two young fellows were his
"clarks," who had been waiting for him.
The lawyer did not presume TO go up
through the open central space, but
worked his way up through the crowd
tipping his hat here and there to ell
ents or acquaintances, and followed by
the "clarks" with his papers. 1t was
such capital advertisement for law
Yer that I could not help admiring 1t;
evidently the Liverpool counselor un-
derstands the noble art. If those
leather bags contained old files of some
Liverpool newspaper, whose business
was that?
The big man in the middle, at the top
of the steps, was entitled to sympathy