The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-31
THE SUPREME COURT CHAMBER.

I the new Chief Justice written form
of the oath of office, which the latter
| will use to prompt himself, If neces-
| sary. while repeating the form. Next
he will receive from the veteran clerk
the little old Bible previously men
toned. and upon which the oath VIII
/ be finally sealed. After this the rob-
ing room attendant will vest the novi-
tiate in front of the clerks desk, unless
it be decided to attend TO this part OF
the ceremony in the robing room, pre-
vious to the ceremony
Finally the newly installed head of
the nations judiciary will take the
middle seat upon the bench-that d.
rectly under the golden eagle And as
soon as he has settled in his chair he
will announce the order of the days
| business
What His Robe Will Cost.
| IN the robing room are always kept
several old gowns. which justices have
worn out. these being retained in case
Justice must be installed before he
mas had time to order a new robe. One
Washington woman furnished nearly
all OF the robes of the court for over
forty years. and since her death an
other woman Of the capital city has
taken over this task. Almost every
| article written about the Supreme
Court in the past generation has stated
| that these robes are furnished at a
uniform cost of 800 apiece. but
court employe in charge of this mat
| ter states that the average cost Of
| a good gown, complete, has been about
$50 Tor the past generation. The most
expensive gown purchased within this
time was one presented to the late
| Justice Shiras by Pittsburg citizens
at the time of his installa ton. It
cost about s75. The most elaborate
gown now Worn on the bench is that
Of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes.
| which, on account of the extra hens
and scallops. cost above the average
| price. Justice Lurton has not bought
a new gown thus far. having chosen
| to wear the one which he wore on the
| circuit bench.
The robe OF a tall justice, like Mr..
| Harlan, requires twenty-four yards,
and the quality Of the black silk, of
| which the gown is made throughout,
determines the final cost of the cere-
! monial garment There are no uniform
! specifications for the cut, such as the
/ printed ones for army and naval uni
forms. but according to tradition each
gown must be made Of large. straight
widths of black silk Ia yards wide
at the bottom, where there Is a mar
row hem. Down the front is broad
hem. and the whole Is gagged at the
top to a. yoke short on the shoulders,
so as to form deep scallops down the
back. The flowing sleeves are / Ia
yards wide and reaching to the wrist
John Jay, when Chief Justice, wore
/. a robe faced with bright scarlet, but
| within the memory of men living to-
| day these vestments of the highest
/ tribunal of the land have been always
i plain black
j VIII Get $3.50 a Week.
i The new Chief Justice will be the
i most highly salaried home official other
than the President. The Vice-Presi-
dent. Speaker and members of the Cab
met receive $4,000 each. and the as
! sociate justices s12,5oo, but the Chief
Justice will draw $4,000 a year, which
will mean s1,OsS per month. $3.50
week. $36 day. In addition to this,