The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-30
WITH BAyRD breath.
Ruthisss va.aais A,vsa In shs uS.tsd
states suprsme ceurs--Desorum off
Spectators.

1RSetAt3Ans
Ths United States supreme court Is q
eeaseien source Of interest to the stranger
In Washington, says the Star OF that
city. Even when the court Is not in ses-
sion the chamber in which II ais IL
viewed by q constant stream OF sisltors,
who enter IL with an air almost Of rever-
ence. Ordinai .ly 1t is the dullest place
where men assemble to do business. The
decorum Is painful. but this does not de-
ter the American kcitizen who comes TO
inspect the seat Of government from lin
gering fondly about the plnce. When the
Kentucky case was argued, not only
was the court room crowded, but long
line Of people waited outside for chan ce
to slip through the door. The manner OF
these pilgrims to the shrine OF the law
does not indicate any loss Of respect by
the plain people for this august body.
The two places In Washington where the
yandal stands in awe are the supreme
court and the White House, and In the
latter place the rule has not been inveSA-
BILE. In all other public places nay b
found the dirty hngerprints Of the vap
dal. The monument Is Clipped, sAtues
are married, fragments are cut from the
furniture and hangings Of the senate
and House Of Representative. and names
have been scratched into the marble and
on the bronze doors, but something holds
the most ruthless In check when he comes
to the supreme court.
The court Is the one place where great
forrnality Is observed, and witnessing the
impression II makes upon the public one
may readily understand why the people
who have recently come to us from under
the Spanish rule Of civil degradation and
official splendor should feel that there
must be q deficiency when official func-
lions are not conducted with pomp. 10
cannot Justly be said that the oerernopi-
business of the supreme court Ii accom-
paned with pomp and splendor, but there
is about It forIhality, reserve apd en-
forced decorum, which is intended TO be
comes for the court to convene barrier
Of velvet covered ropes Is stretched across
the corridor, so rs to preserve clear
passage from the consulting room on one
side OF the corridor to the court room on
the other. This blocks the passage from
the House of Representatives and the 70.
tunda to the Senate, and for the brief
space of time 1t takes for the justices to
pass into the court no one may go beyond
the red line of ropes. Senators, Repre-
sentatives, the President himself, should
he happen to be there, must wait. The
members of the court, the chief justice
at their head, with their black robes
wrapped about them, march In n solemn
procession, single file, from the consulta-
ton room across the corridor, through
the lobby Of the court to their places on
the bench.
This ceremony occurs whenever the
court passes In or out Of the court cham
Der, and there is invariably at the hour
of their assembling crowd OF curious
strangers grouped on either side Of the
barrier to view this manifestation of
dignity. Many remove their hats as the
court files by, and on every face Is an ex-
preston Of respect and interest. No ex-
preston Of impatience escapes even the
belated senator who Is delayed by this
procession as he hurries TO reach the
Senate chamber in time for prayer.
There Is no talking among the specta-
tors when the court Is In session, and
even when the bench Is vacant and
strangers are viewing the deserted cham
Der, they usually, speak In whispers.
An old white bearded colored man who
sits at the door is the personification OF
silence and dignity, and the sight OF
him Is enough TO make those even OF
frivolous mind grow grave and walk on
their tip-toes. He silently, with per-
fectly noiseless motion opens the door
1t again, or II the chamber is full, stands
with his back to the door, and, without
saying word keeps others attempting
to enter. Newspaper reporters are not
expected to sit..in the supreme court room.
If they enter they are expected to be
as other visitors and not attempt to take
notes Of the proceedings. Ready attendants
drawn. When Chief Justice Fuller was
installed an exception was made, after
much influence had been brought to bear
and after long elaboration, and GER
tain limited number Of newspaper men
were provided with seats within the bar
Of the court. Probably half a dozen such
were admitted, and on the desk provided
for each was q quill pen and little
square bottle of Ink, which they were
expected to use. When the Kentucky
case was being argued orders were given
not to admit newspaper men generally,
even in the capacity OF visitors.
The other day two lawyers met In
front Of the court room and one remind
ed the other that though he had on o
black coat his necktie was purple. The
lawyer with the colored tie had been In
the court room, but the other could not
venture in, because, not expecting on
leaving home that he would visit the
Capitol, he had worn light spring suit.
Lawyers appearing within the bar Of
the court, though they are mere specta.
tors, must wear black. What awful
thing would happen If one should ap-
pear before court in light suit Is not
known, for no one has had the temerity
to try it. The dignity and decorum Of
the court goes long way in preventing
that loss OF respect that usually comes
from too great familiarity, and Its effect