, 1859-05-30

MEMOIR OF CHIEF JUSTICE rARsoSs: Rs9: y ny u.
W. b. Keen. Chicago.
Amidst the i'll weeds Of biography, which
grow apace, NC meet with, here and there,
graceful flower. Of the former it were invidious
to cite examples, and every reader will recall
The names Of honest chroniclers-it may be
amongst his own kinsfolk-who meant so well,
and illustrated 50 fully the old proTerb con-
cerning that place which is said to be paved with
good Intentions
The memoir Of Chief Justice Parsons is not
one Of these. Indeed it is long since we hare
met \ volume at oucs 20 fascinating and so up-
pretending. The task Of the author in narrat-
ing the incidents Of his fathers life was one Of
peculiar delicacy, but he never seeks to make us
forget the relation in which lie stands to the
subject Of his memoir; and while he does not
dwell upon great mans faults, be frankly
places us upon our guard against the danger Of
regarding him through the Light Of partiality
and nfftction.
The Author has long been known to the men,
bers Of his profession through the medium Of
number Of treatises upon Law, which deserve
to be studied as models o. taste aud style, as
well as high authority, upon tue subjects which
they discuss.
The prevailing characteristics of his former
works are exhibited in this. In narrative, con-
cise and cear, which is clothed in style cx-
ceedingly simple and transparent, he places be-
fure us the lesson Of his fathers life. 1t is the
life Of no common man. The Chief Justice died
nearly half 4 century ago. mud his memory has
somewhat faded in the minds of the present
generation. But no one can read this record Of
| his career without feeling the iustness Of the
title which his contemporaries universally con-
cedcd him. They called him the Giant Of the
Law. He was born in February, 1850, and re-
| ceived his early education at tile hummer
academy, in Dyfcld. which was then under tho
charge of the Rev. Mr. Moody. whose favorite
| and oft-repeated maxim was q Believe that you
| can do, and you can d." preccpt whose spirit
Ills celebrated pupil amply illustrated. lie ell
tered Harvard College in 1865, was graduated
four years LITER, aud afterwards taag1t school il
Falmouth, ut the same time studying law ir
the Office Of Theophilus Bradbury. He was
admitted to tic bar in l.74, and ut his lirst tern
made tiftvniuc writs, number that is certaiul,
surprising. From, this period until lis deatE.
lis career was that of fortunate and success
ful mau. In all the various positions which HI
occupied, he showed himself to the world as
great man, He left to his children the sacre,
legacy Of an unspottcd nanlc, and to the people
| Of his Statc wide and well-earued reputation
US learned lawyer, just judge, profount
scholar, a far-sscing statesman, and SINGER.
Christian.
To the world ut large this story of his lif
will prove an acceptable contribution. To i
citizen Of Massachusetts, who should inqul1,
concerning the title Of tLis mans fame, who
more than any other perhaps, contributed 10 cs
tablish her prosperity and ensure her greatness
VIC would answer in tue words Of the Roman
81 qat,ris t71onunsenfuna, rarce,nsD'et "If tho,
| seek for his monument, look around!"