The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-05-16
The Late Chlef Lu.tfce Chase.

we pI6s6ul DclOW .dleR "REMINISCENCES
of the late Chief Justice CHASE, whose
death we mentioned in our last issue
which cannot fail TO interest our read.
ers:
An anecdofe of CHAsE's college life is
characteristic, as showing that courage
GUS and steady sense of justice which
formed leading feature of his lIfe.
One of his classmates was sentenced by
the faculty to be expelled from college
on a charge of which young CHASE
knew him TO be innocent. After IN
vain arguing the case with the presi-
dent, he finally told him that he also
would leave, as he could not stay in an
institution where his friends were treat
ed with such injustice. The two youths
packed up their goods and drove of.
But. the faculty relenting, sent wOfd
after them almost before they got ont OF
the village that they might return.
They said, however, that they must
take time to consider; and they took a
week. having pleasant vacation, after
which they returned.
Mr.. CHASE graduated with distinguish
ed honors; studied law under the auspi-
ces of Mr.. Writ, who was greatly at
tached 10 the noble, talented young
man.
1t is related of him that, after gradu-
ating, he went to Washington and APP
Piled to his uncle, the Senator, to get
him an Office under the Government.
The old Senator, stern as Roman
statesman, prom pity refused:
'I'll give you half dollar to buy you
a spade to begin WITH" he said, "for
then you may come 70 something at
last, but once settle a young man down
in a government Office, he never does
anything more. I've ruined one or two
young men in that way, and am not
going to rum YOU"
He taught private school IN wash
ington, thus supporting himself while
he pursued his legal studies. He COM
menced the practice of law in CINCINNATI
in 1880. BY his commanding talents
and his untalteriDg devotion to study
and application to business, he soon rose
to eminence in his profession; and as IS
well known, was chosen Governor of
Ohio; was sent by that State TO the Z. >.
Senate; was made Secretary ofthe Treas
ury by Mr.. Lincoln; carried the Union
successfully through the war by his
great financial ability, and was at the
death OF fancy, selected to fill his place
as Chief Justice of the United States,
which position he digniied by his great
great qualities of learning and unfiinch-
ing probity, his manly Independence,
and freedom from party bias. MIR.
CHASE was the finest scholar who has
ever presided over the Supreme Court.
As Latin and Greek scholar he was
not surpassed by any man in his plo-
fession. He read French as readily as
English-was finished Italian, Span
ish and German scholar-and thorough
ly yersed in English literature. His
appreciation of and perfect mastery OF
the works of ShakeSpear, Milton, the
earlier British poets, and the later ex-
ponents of the poetic art, Wordsworth
and others of the lake schools, was
something marvellous. The writer OF
this has listened with rapture by che
hour to his splendid Rotations from his
favorite authors, which he delivered
with dramatic effect-such richness OF
tone and faultless delivery as to be posi-
lively thrilling. Spell-bound we lis
tened to his matchless rendering of his
favorite American poets.
Elm Teste Bury ist unser Got" and
his "Astrea at the Capitol to his ma
testic recitation of Tennyson's "Blow,
bugle. blow" and many other gems,
which borrowed an additional charm
Mr.. CHAsE's faultless rendition of them.
To hear him, one unacquainted with the
life of busy action he had had, would
have imagined that he had devoted his
whole time to the quiet walks OF lltera-
ture.
His character was singularly we'll bal
anced, rendered, perfect So just, so
generous, so benefcent, magnanimous
and true-his disposition genial, alice
tionate and cheerful-his religion so ex-
allied and spiritual-his personal attri-
butes so without blemish, as to force
the conviction upon those who knew
him and mourn his loss, that 1--WE ne'er
shall look upon his like again"
During the war the writer was pres
l. ,1-Ao fnlN1 HR-ff
Mr.. GEORGE d. PRENTICE, bis old pOlit-
cal enemy, who was unusually brilliant
that morning, he and Mr.. CHASE flash
ing wit and exchanging good-natured
sallies over their old feuds-noW dead
the issues which had divided them be-
ing things OF the past, while the accom-
plished Gen. IRWIN MCDOWELL and
other intelligent gentlemenioinedin the
table-tallS, which has rarely been excel
ed in brilliancy or wit.
At Narragansett beach-at the sum
mer home, Canonichet, of his son-in-law
Gov. SPRAGUC-we met him, after the
convention in New York which made
such great laundering fissco in failing
to nominate this great man for the Presi-
dency, when his fine qualities shone
Respondent. Notwithstanding tue dis
appointment and the ruin of his pros
poets, so certain, OF ruling and serving
Lu6 Dtoplt uO AONOh 81 hNAig LIE
repose of exterior was unaltered, his
unimpaired, tho luster of
his genial temper undimmed. In the
bosom OF his family, so 1neXpresSlbly
dear to him, his manner was AS simple
and winning as that of a tender-hearted
woman, and his daughters adored him,
giving him homage most unusual,
while they were as unreserved to him
as to one of their own age in their COM
panionable confidence.
His commanding form, his great, TO-
BILE head, the matchless beauty OF his
manly face, where sat enthroned the re-
fex of his mighty soul, filled 1.-THE be-
holder with the conviction that
There's nothing i'll can dT ell in such
temple; If the i'll spirit have so-falr a
house, good things will strive to dwell
whit"
He is pone from our earthly sight, but
a sacred niche in the coutry's Valhalla,
in the heart of the people, in the adOr-
ing memory of his friends, is bright
with his presence forever.