The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-10-17
17NCLE SANS NINE BLACK
GOWNED JUDGES ON VIEW
go tribunal of Last Season Was One of the Chief siob+s
of the Capital. Somber-tiued Apartment

the United states supreme
WV. aorvened at noon Tuesday one
eouL' most attractive and interest
o. 20 sootures for tourists to the ma
lns oonital was put on view for
lOpD, usring six months. Black
'Ds aad Judges, dignified and stern,
s0s +i+rtipg the tribunal of last re-
c0u' which can overrule the presi-
SOi v -, congress, will be pointed out
usI' described by garrulous guides,
DIV consideration, to inquisitive
n l1l who make Washington their
pno at this season of the year.
WI Vino men learned in the law will
oazed upon, and their personal
s.oorance and peculiarities, as re-
' ar[ by those supposed to know
'tom will be the subject of many
,,orrbetone conversations after the
...roIers have returned to their fire.
,idos throughout the country.
Curiosity About the Court.
There is always an eager and ex-
..4od tbrong of curiosity hunters con-
r,ogated in the corridor about the
or+rance to the supreme court cham
nor at noon of each day, when the
chief Justice and the eight asso-
oIota justices emerge from the rob-
inc room and march in dignifed pro-
cAssion to their respective seats on
the bench in the supreme court
chamber In the early days Of the
r4nublic this apartment was the SEN
ate chamber, and within it's precincts
some of the greatest orators famous
in the annals of the United States
have participated in debates and
scenes which have become historical.
This was before the marble wings of
the capitol building, which now &C
commodate the senate and house of
representatives, were added to the
bic white pile of Capitol Hill.
4 Somber Hued Apartment.
Now, however, the historic apart
ment is a somber hued, dismally APP
Dointed affair. the light of day be-
ing carefully excluded by heavy cur
tans and draperies, and the only sun
shine which ever penetrates the
chamber percOlates through a small
skylight overhead. Instead of fiery
debates and harangues for the edit
cation of listening multitudes there
is a somnolent awe-inspiring at
mOsphere surrounding the spectator
whose curiosity tempts him within
the precincts of the room occupied
by the Court of Last Resort in this
country. In front of the bench or
long table at which the nine judges
in their black silk gowns are seated
there is what is known as the counsel
table, devoted to the occupation and
use of attorneys who practice at this
bar. Attendants promptly silence
any attempt at conversation above
a whisper on the part of visitors,
and the only break in the solemn at
mOsphere occurs when some lawyer
Is droning out brief for the en-
lghtment of the court upon some
case in which clients are represented
by the lawyer. Occasionally the
chief justice or one of his associates
will PROFOUND a query, and when this
has been answered the gloom set
ties down again and the attorney
continues his monotonous presenta-
ton
HumOr Of the Supreme Bench.
Spectators who have gazed with
awe and an air of repression upon
the dignifed judges who preside over
these proceedings can scarcely real
lie that there is ever an unbending
Of judicial dignity within this tenn
PIE OF Justice. But the nine men
VINO uphold the majesty of the law
ana define the proper course of con-
quot for all law-abiding citizens with
IN the confines of the republic have
'helr moments of relaxation and rec
featlon the same as other mOrtals
ana within the shadow of the tenn
pIe' too. Their recreation comes
saturday when they go into confer
eace to consider and decide cases
when have been brought to their at
tention
An inquisitive public is never at