The Washington herald., 1910-12-18

Until the wings Of the great Capitol
had been completed this hall was the
Senate chamber and in times gone by
echoed with the eloquence of Henry Clay.
Daniel Webster. John Randolph. and
John Tyler. Nowadays it is famous as
the place where congregates the most
august judicial body in the world
Across the hall runs a long platform
containing nine large and comfortable
1 armchairs, that of the Chief Justice diff
| fering slightly from the others and
standing in the middle. Before the judi
/ cial benches is a wide red-carpeted space
for the attorneys and beyond this are
arranged in a semi-circle upholstered
benches for the spectators. OF whom
there is always quite a gathering.
Behind the bench of the justices is a
large screen with a door in the middle
! -Four Chief Justices thus far have pre-
| sided in this hall-Chief Justice fancy,
up TO the appointment Of Justice White
the other day the only Catholic Chief
Justice; Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase,
said TO have been the handsomest man
ever seen upon the Supreme bench; Chief
Justice Waite. who came 10 this great
a
4 well, and Chief Justice Fuller. whose
chair recently has been draped in black
The United States Supreme Court
chamber Is as hushed and as noiseiess
as a cathedral. The big leather-covered
doors swing unheard upon their hinges.
Spectators entering are required 10 move
quietly and 10 refrain even from whis-
pering or opening a book or a newspa-
per. To level an opera glass at one of
the justices, as some tourists have dared
to do. is a capital offense in the eyes of
the ever-watchful marshals.
"A TrifIe Less ImposinE.s
All of these requirements are rigidly
enforced by a band of attendants who
are only a trihe less imposing than the
justices themselves. No voice is raised
in the chamber except that OF the advo-
Gates In pleading and an occasional
question from the bench. BY the doors
stand official lynxes who watch sharply
TO see that order and silence are main
tanned
At II o'clock, when the court convenes
the lawyers are in waiting; TO be a mo
ment late would be the objectionable sin
There are always spectators awaiting the
court, sometimes anxious clients with
tremendous interests involved. When the
court is ready to appear an official ad-
vances and gives three laundering raps
which sound like the crack of doom and
proclaims:.
THE Supreme Court approaches"
At that all present rise. a door is open
ed by another functionary, and the long
line of justices in their robes, headed by
the Chief Justice, is seen majesticaIly
crossing the corridors from their robing-
81,
respectfully held open for them, the crier
announces:
The honorable the Chief Justice and
the associate justices OF the Supreme
Court of the United States"
The justices. headed by the Chief JUS
tice, then enter, going behind the long
screen. so that four of them may be on
one side Of the Chief Justice and four on
the other. Their entrance and place on
the bench are strictly regulated by SEMI
ority of service The Chief Justice enters
from the door in the screen held open
for him. Ali mount the bench and,
standing for a moment. bow ceremoni-
ously to the right and the left, to the
lawyers and spectators, all present bowling
in return. The Chief Justice seats him
self. the other justices then take their
seats, the spectators sit, and the court
erier proelaims:
''The Supreme Court OF the United
States is now in session
Rigid Etiquette.
The etiquette of lawyers in the pres
ence of the Supreme Court is very rigid.
1t extends even to their clothes. Counsel
are expected to wear frock coats with
black neckties. and if one should dare to
appear in sack coat In that open, red