"
The Court sat till six o'clock and often far into the evening,
and began at half-past eight or nine. So there was no chance
for the country lawyers to go home at night. There was great
fun at these old taverns in the evening and at meal times.
They insisted generally, like Mrs. Battles in whist, on the
rigor of the game, and the lawyer had to look sharp after
his pleadings or he found himself tripped up. The parties
could not be witnesses, nor could any person interested in
the result of the trial. So many a good case, and many a
good defence failed for want of the legal evidence to make
it out. But the whole Bar and the public seemed to take an
interest in important trials. People came in from the country
round with their covered wagons, simply for the pleasure of
attending Court and seeing the champions contend with each
other. The lawyers who were not engaged in the case were
always ready to help those who were with advice and suggestion.
It used to be expected that members of the Bar would be in
the court-house hearing the trials even if they were not engaged
in them.
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