The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-05

wear gowns on the bench.
A warm discussion of the subject is
stirring up much sentiment in judicial
and legal circles, the preponderance of
opinion apparently being against the
innovation, because it is asserted 20 be
contrary to the democratic principles
for which the state is characteristic.
The matter has reached such propor-
tions chiefly because the judges, with
masculine disregard for the aesthetic
or for what is considered the PROPER
degree of dignity, have appeared on
the bench clad in parti-colored raiment
checked suits, brown suits, frock
coats cutaway, sacks, with their de-
lectable pockets and every other style
and hue permissible to man. 1t is in
timated that if the honorable court
would confine itself to plain black, the
gown factionists would not so insist
emily demand the change one judge
who violently objects to pettcoats, as
he irreverently terms the proposed
garb, declares that he will resign be-
fore wearing a gown while on the
bench. Meanwhile the results of these
deliberations is awaited with interest,
particularly by the women of New
Jersey, who are emphatically in favor
of a gowned judiciary.
The matter of clothes seems to be dis
turbing the minds of men as we'll as
women this season. a Washington tai
lor has thought out an elaborate theory
which gives an optimistic view of the
age and which has called up some
discussion. 1t relates to pockets. There
are people who have decided that
mans superiority over woman lies in
the fact that he wears pockets in his
clothes. The intellectual poise which a
consciousness of the possession Of some
twenty odd pockets gives to the mascu-
line mind is believed to account for
his advantages over women at the
polls and in running the country gem
orally. The tailor aserts that morals
improve according to the ratio of a
good fit and a diminished number of
pockets. Years ago two hip pockets
We're absolutely necessary in trousers;
one for the revolver, the other for a
flask. So entirely has been abandoned
the custom of carrying these once in
dispensable projections that the re-
ceptacles thereof have practically gone
out of style. 1t is therefore regarde |
as Van indication that the world is
growing better
That the subject of mems dress is Il
disturbing one at present is suggested
by the complaint which comes from the
metropolis regarding the ignorance of
They are said to be able to accurately
follow out the fashion of by-gone
age, but to dress like a gentleman of
today they cannot. John Drew and {
very few others are cited as the excep-
tions proving the rule which is that the
average actor wears cheap clothes i'll
cut and antequated in style.
In contrast to all this agitation on
masculine dress 1t is interesting "a
note that a man superintendent of
schools out in Kansas City is devoting
| his attention to dress reform among
to that usually observed in this mat
ter. The teachers under his jurisiic-
tion found in the fashionable golf skirt
garment so convenient and service
able for school that many adopted it,
The superintendent was Mortified and
promptly issued an edict forbddjne
short gowns and there is CORE
spending degree Of Indignation existina
In Kansas City. If there is any woman
on the face of the earth who shout
| be allowed to wear a skirt which es-
capes the floor, it is the school teacher
who must go out in all sorts of weather
| and must climb many stairs in the
course Of the day and sweep up clouds
OF microbes at every step in the school
room, To her the golf skirt of a mod,
est length is a blessing. The man VIII
| tabOoes this boon for the woman teach.
er is unfit for the superintendency OF
! public schools.