Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-04

uusR HAT Illusions can be greater than those
Nv worked by the necromancy OF nightE Inc
VkI faded beauty of a bygone age, whose hoi-
w lows show so pitifully at noon, may make
spirited showing in the evening hours.
Her complexion becomes mtigated, her lines are al
most excused. And such wizardry may even be ex-
tended to police courts.
Rv dav for instance the Jefferson Market Court is
a stained and sombre thing, its walls possessed Oh
greasy unwhoesome smearings, its seats OF STICKY
musty exhalations-r garnerngs of greasy
crime Under the shadows of the elevated 1t lies, a
thing of din and depression-aways the roar of the
passing trains coming through the windows, the tones
of the place sombre and forbiddng-and all through
out of bleak and melancholy atmosphere
But by night when the evening court is held every
thing seems nsensbly softened The elevated Is less
freouent\ Some potent necromancer has turned his
switches on and the half tones begin to fade
and merge themselves into the mists of the night
Even the wooden benches seem less sticky and un-
wholesome to the eye.
The institution of the Night Court is new. 1t is the
clearing house for suspected humanity arrested De
tween four o'clock in the afternoon ana TWO III 'he
morning 1t is restricted to msdemeanors OF petty
larcenes, however; should you De ieohiou' pe
you will have to wait.
At nine o'clock VIII justice be dispensed, but before
this time one may look about and get the atmos
pbere so to speak--if it be not too robust
One sees a large hail. with HIGH old fashioned WIN
dows at either end whose panes are divided INTO many
small squares The walls are grayish green AZ
color and the oak wainscoting runs about its four
sides At the further end a raised and paneheu
desk appearing light in contrast to the deeper tones
about it. runs across the width of the room In tue
centre of this is justice administered at the soes
The good lady's business is accelerated let us U.s.
nv clerks who sometimes change their chameieu ~
sims TO become interpreters. A large iron safe Is
set in the midst of this sanctuary, whose open . ~
djscloses pigeonhoes and protruding documents
In Silent Array.
Tn the body of the hall sit the subpoenaed and the
friends of the subpoenaed in silent array. Iney
comfortably fill the musty odored benches divisoneu
nv the central passage. One sees scatterings OF
black of rusty shaws from which olive complexions
and beady eyes look out. Ladies and gentlemen whom
nature has emphasized in the matter OF color gaze
out from among the numerous pasty, coloriess
faces which look up at the panelled desk before then
A line of long coated, gilt buttoned, blue capped
uddv faced policemen stand early in there. They
make out their complaints and discuss the affairs OF
their little world they wait.
sWhat are you doing there, sketchingT asked one
looking over the shoulder of newspaper artist.
.Take him." pointing to Cavanagh the bridge officer
whose forty years the force has left him portly
and rubcund and cheerful in his hours of ease The
artist did so and finished passable likeness. Cav
anagh smiled broadly he regarded his presentation,
hut his position and characteristics have made him
model many time now and he has become used
TO it, And yet he has his points of pride. See you
don't make me too fat" his final injunction to
the artist who duly made his promises
couple of knocks sound from the glass of an inner
room at the side. Silence in the Courtr shouts Cav
anagh casting aside the foes of art and feeling the
stirring of ofcialdom within him. The dark coated,
rusty shawed audience with the staring eyes rise to
the entrance from the side door of young man in
loose black gown, who,' accompanied by couple of
court officers walks quickly to his place in the centre
of the raised desk and seats himself.
1t is Magistrate Kernochan, who wealthy and of
socially exclusive blood, believes in the gospel of
work and Of useful citizenship So now perceive him
aborng sundry of the submerged and sentencing
them in clear crisp and decided tones to their
deserts He is small, slim. sharp and dark man,
with finely chiseed features and thick, dark, wavy
hair-a whose predominant expression is sort
of alert but incisive, good nature His clear brown
eyes look keenly and pleasantly from beneath pair
of rather heavy eyebrows His voice is clear toned
and ncislve and his sentences uttered with sort
Of active, sharp breyity
The spirit of all court proceedings is absolutely