Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-12-17

Il to be said that Judge Herrington's Pro-
notion 70 the bench, and his long oeog'
Fancy Of seat there. were occasioned not
,uly by his qualification for the place, but
lso, aud largely, by political oausidara'
ion. II was q time when political feeling
Va very intense, aud De was d bitter par
isan Of the Republican school lie was
leoted as Republican, and his oppon'
ne. always charged him with carrying
as politics on 10 the bench, and with
reing restrained by no scruplcs from using
lis judicial power to protect his friends
nd punish his enemies,
What were his abilities as public
peaker, there are scauty means OF know
ng. Daniel Chapman gave this testimony
o his power as an advocate, "He would
it," said Chapman, "as dozy as a bear
,ali asleep, and not appearing to notice
nything that was going on, and ! would
hink was going TO have II oil my Own
way, but when his opportunity came. hc
would 10, up and taro bigger hole IN a
ssc than any other creature lever saw,
The lato Hon. Obediah Noble, Of Ia
aouth, said of him. "He would say more
q a hundred words than any other man !
yer knew"
That his abilities "a a popular speaker
sere superior 10 the average, may also h.
nfcrred from the fact that in lsoe he Wa.
invited TO deliver a Fourth Of July ora-
ON at Rutland, and did deliver 1t. 20.
,tical lines were so rigidly drawn at that
me, that not even on the Fourth Of July
Guild the parties agree upon an orator. II
vas finally settled that each party should
ave an orator, aud an Grafton, though
he celebration vas Joint one. Herring.
On was the orator for the Republicans,
nd Charles X Williams, then n student
law in the Office of Cephas Smith, Jr,
clivered the Federal Grafton Il mus
ave been an interesting contrast that was
PRESENTED by the two speakers The one
II, burly, unedueated, unpolished, and
With no other resources than energy, good
cnse, and native eloqucnce; the other il
he flush of early manhood, OF comelN
.resence and pleasing address, with h,
las,ics and the belLS leitrcs fresh in hi
nind and ready upon his lips, and already
egiuning To display that mingled rrac,
nd strength which were soon o. plac,
i'm at the head OF the Rutland htr
need not hg doubted, however, that, o'
ho fooling then was, each Plrl. though
Is own speaker the superior.
The materials at our disposal d. no
How us to present Judge Harrington be
orc you in any other or bcttcr way thar
Y anecdote. There can, indeed. ba NJ
,etter way. Anecdotes photograph tn
nan and his times they interest our emo
ions; they bring their subject down iron
is pedestal, and place him on our level
hey are the little Lillipution ties that bin
aim TO our heart, th0y Nra tho "''o'N
hat show which way the wind blow.
When the breath is too slight to turn th
lately, stiff, and sometimes rusty weath
rcock. There are Instance say
'ainte Berne, the most acute of Twin
French critics, in which the p0rtrai
would be absolutely incomplete, unless
vas accompanied with anecdotes. \
nose nothings which at first everybod
= familiar with, which everybody nc,
.ects to write az far to well known
| nre subsequently sought in Val
md become precious again with time.
He was man Of large frame, full 81
eet high, broad shoulderod. and Of gre
muscular strength His complexion "
,warthy, his beard black, heavy, and mo
| often than otherwise, unshaycn, his ha
black, coarse, and rarely combed. II
YES were small, keen, and mischievdus
Expression, his face was expressive, al
his feature flexible. His Temperance
vas nearly unmixed bilious
| have said that he was plain iarm'
| That expression stops short OF the trut
tie wis a coarse, rough, uncouth, sloyen
boor. 1t was no uncommon thing +
him, when on the bench, to take off /
hoes and stockings, nor did he hesitate
put his naked feet upon the table befc
aim.
IIo once went 10 Rutland, wearing
beard OF several days growth, and went
% BARRIERS shop to be shaved. The b,
Der being absent, his apprentice und,
sook the iob,not knowing who the custo
| was: and when all was ready,
aid TO the Judge, open your mouth
you please. sir" What for T" growl
ferring,au, so | may see what side
your head your face is on, was the rep
Atthat iuncture the barber returned, Il
IN making his best bow, addressed I
ustomer as Judge Harrington, to t
great confusion Of tho apprentice, W
| ,pcedily disappeared, leaving the Judge
ren his story. which be did, with hear
T. laugh
On the bench hn usually appeared as
nc were half asleep, and apparently pi
my no attention to the case on tn
Nothing, however, escaped his observati