The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-05-20

Pen and Ink Portraits OF the Justices
Their Personal Appearance, Habits,
Etc. - Graphic and Interesting


Their Personal Appearance. Habits.
Etc. - Graphic and Interesting
Washington correspondence. N. Y. Herald !
! The Judges, rs q whole, possess
great gravity Of demeanor. They
look solemn and responsible, learned
and wise, which has such nn orprcs.
sive effect on tho boholdcr. Chief
Justice Chase is the central attraction
both from his official position and tho
numerous prominent ones he held pri-
or to this. With his handsome chin
bearded Ga winter protection only and
sitting in the badly failing light Of
court room, he realizes in no sense
the idea stranger has formed of
him from pictorial and newspaper ac-
counts. But then he could hardly
ever have been a strilsingly handsome
man. Ills features are too small and
regular for that. But he has a noble
figure, and from under his largo Lrow
US clear and bright pair Of blue eyes
look out as you could hope TO find in
schoolboy. Hc is quito bald, but
looks hale and vigorous in his library,
wnerc he is seen at his best. He is
social, very kind in his manners, nat
ural and wholly unaffected. If YOU
are young you think it must be nice
to have such father. He keeps
house with his unmarried daughter,
Nettic, in plain brick house, neigh.
Dor to Secretary Creswell's, on First
street. Senator and Mrs. Kate Chase
Sprague, for some time resided there,
and not until rorently has Miss Chase
assumed the entire charge Of her fa-
theirs house. 1t need hardly be add
ed that she acquits herself to the
qualification Of her friends. The
Chief Justices mansion is well and
tastcfully furnished, without any
show of extravaganza. It is quito
possible that tho Chief Justice reapcd
no largo financial profits from the
emoluments of his various positions
of trust. His library is quite.exten-
sive, lining two sides Of the room, ex-
cept space over the mantel, devoted
to engravings of men, one of which
is a fine ono of Lincoln, and o-;e of
his uncle Right Reverend Philander
Chase. At one end of the room is a
fine marble bust of himself. made By
Jones, Cincinnati sculptor, during
his gubcrnatorial term in Ohio. The
library opens from the loft side of
the hall, is lighted from both ends,
and is his working room. On Sun
day he occupies q pew in tho Metrop-
olitan Methodist church. while his
daughter worships at St. Johns Epis-
copal. He spends the summer with
his children upon the mountains of
South Carolina, where Senator
Spraguc has a charming place. He
was born III New Ham pshire in 1908.
and removed to Ohio when twe've
years of age, where his education was
superintended by his uncle, Bishop
Chase. People are familiar with the
history of Salmon Portland Chase, a
man whose record as teacher, author,
lawyer, Senator, Governor, Secretary
Of the Treasury, and finally Chief
Justice, is something for the nutiou as
we'll as the man to be proud Of:
SAMUEL NELSON.
At the right of the Chief Justice sits
Justice Nelson. the oldest of the
judges. He was born in 1902, is a na-
tive of Now York, and has been a
judge Of tho Supreme Court since
ls45, having been appointed by Pres
ident Tyler. He has shining hdir,
without badness, and side whiskers
running down under his chin. He
has a rather large mouth, but an ex.
ceedingly pleasant face, figure of
medium size, ard quaint enough in
manners to suggest Nhe olden times,
He has been judge for forty.seven
years, belongs to Cooperstown, New
York, and during this present session
has rooms at the National Hotel.
NOAH H. swAYNE
was appointed from Ohio by Lincoln,
but is a native of Virginia. He is Of
Quaker descent, was early orphaned,
began the study Of medicine but drift
ed into law. His face is smoothly
shaven, showing the strong lines Of
command" down from his prominent
Roman nose. He has strong, square
jaws, with firm chin, dark hair,
somewhat bald, and good sized, we'll
set on ears I aver that ears signify
as the nose or hands. Great, fappy
cara, or little, unfinished, crampcd
ears, indicate something wrong al
ways. Judge Swayne has an ample
figure, and o soul to match. Socially
he is very genial, and is happy in an
interesting family of children by
whom he is surrounded in a cheerful
home on Thirteenth street. At the
age of twenty-eight he married a
Miss Wager, an accomplished Virgin.
10 lady, who was heiress to q large
number Of slaves These were imme-
diately set free. This act was only
in keeping wieh the generous nature
Of the mana largeness Of nature
that wins him o warm and popular re.
gard from all who know him. He
is sixty-six years of age.
DAVID DAVIS
is o Marylsnder by birth, but was ap.
pointed to the bench Of the Supreme
Court from Illinois, by Lincoln, in
1872. In physique he is alderma mic.
His weight leade throuoh the hmm.