Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 146, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 June 1911 — Grammer in the Supreme Court. [ARTICLE]

Grammer in the Supreme Court.

Not so much purists as grammarians would be distressed by hearing justices of the Supreme court speak from the bench either in handing down oral decisions or in addressing members of the bar. The members of the court frequently break the rules of syntax. Of course this is never apparent in the written decisions, where great care is taken in editing the matter written, but it would appear the justices arts not so exacting In speaking, seemingly giving vent to the first ,words that come to their mouths, even words they were told were incorrect in their boyhood, the lapsus linguae may be consequently thought atavistic. »' One who listens in the court may hear from the bench such expressions as “he don’t” and "they ain’t” Other violations of the grammatical proprieties might be cited. Even the chief justice is a boy again, unless one’s ears very much deceive.