March 21: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
ON THIS DAY IN 1915, Brooklyn Daily Eagle columnist Frederick Boyd Stevenson wrote, “From the day when the first court held its session it has been the unwritten prerogative of the defeated litigant to go out back of the courthouse and ‘cuss’ the judge who rendered the adverse decision. On a recent occasion, while sitting in one of the courtrooms in Brooklyn, I heard and saw this prerogative stretched several points. The plaintiff in a certain action was denied a motion, and when the presiding justice, with all the majesty of the law announced his decision, the chagrined litigant, instead of accepting it with deferential fortitude, strode down the aisle toward the exit with red face, ejaculating in a tone audible in all parts of the room: ‘This is a hell of a court!’ Of late years there seems to be a tendency on the part of certain ordinarily fair-minded and level-headed citizens to be imbued with practically the same sentiment, although framed in a choicer mode of expression, toward the judiciary system in general throughout the United States. Nothing would be gained by seeking to disguise the fact that there has been an undercurrent of criticism and, in some instances, an upper current of criticism, against the courts of this country. In some cases it may be deserved. In many cases it is not deserved. One of the paramount factors which gives strength to this criticism is the delay of the courts.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1933, the Eagle reported, “A flood of orders for new uniforms of all kinds, especially police, has poured into the offices of the Smith Gray Corporation, 740 Broadway, Manhattan, since the bank holiday restrictions were lifted. ‘We had an increase of over 300 percent in orders for new police uniforms in the last three days of last week,’ Edward S. Smith, president, declared. ‘Orders for other descriptions of uniforms, for chauffeurs, trainmen, elevator operators and so forth, have increased from 50 to 75 percent.’ In addition to actual orders placed, Mr. Smith stated the company has received a great many inquiries which are expected to develop into orders shortly. This unusual influx of business is ascribed by Mr. Smith to the wave of confidence which appears to be sweeping the country. ‘I know of no special reason why business should pick up at this time, excepting that uniformed employees, like everyone else, are definitely more confident in the future of business,’ Mr. Smith declared. ‘They have been out of the markets because they didn’t know what was going to happen next. They have been playing safe. Now, I feel, they think the worst is over and they are buying while prices are still attractively low.’”
Brooklyn Boro
View MoreNew York City’s most populous borough, Brooklyn, is home to nearly 2.6 million residents. If Brooklyn were an independent city it would be the fourth largest city in the United States. While Brooklyn has become the epitome of ‘cool and hip’ in recent years, for those that were born here, raised families here and improved communities over the years, Brooklyn has never been ‘uncool’.