New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-09-12

The life Of the late Judge Curtis was so closely
associated with the political events OF the daN IN 10
give his biography the character OF history oil pup
lie affairs rather than of personal narrative. va
the pregnant questions Of governmental rci'y ana
constitutional law which approaching a prac-
t;cal issue some twenty-five years ago, he was
prominent and decided in the discussion OF princi-
rcs and the expression OF opinions and often found
himself al variance with the convictions OF large
class of the American people. With clearness OF
intellcc, and frigidity of temperament that were
curionsly matched in his composition he was al
WAYS vigorous in argument, acute In exposition ana
lucid IN uttcrancc but preserving "a compcsuIe'
fcrmality, and apparent cold-bloodedness, that
raised INN above the level of popular sympatles,
and whilo the gravity and earncsiness OF ms caI-
meter secured respect, deprived HIM Of the enjoy
Inent If personal admiration. The biography OF
Judge Curtis in the first volume of this work by
his brother Mr.. George Ticknor Curtis, is Singh
larlv impartial production portrayng the features
al its subject with great iirmnesS Of touch, with lit
lie bias from the influence of kindred blood or per
tonal affection, and with no attempt TO throw an
artificial lustre around the life of a diiigent and
painstakine but rather unattrsctve, parsonage.
Judge Curtis, born in Wa,ertown. Mass. Noven-
Der T. 1909. was descended from highly respect
able New-England ancestry in the middle walks OF
life. whose line is traced TO early period in the
sea-captain Of Boston his mother, daughter of a
country storekeepcr In the vicinity, was a woman
az remarkable beauty Of person and energy OF char
acter who was left by the premature death ot her
husband, with the charge OF two young children
md with but scanty means Tor their support Among
other occupations to which she rcsoriod she cstab
1shed a circulating library. when her eldest son.
benjamin. was about nine years old, comprising the
current literature of the day and some of the stan
r. .N..1sra gfI Hfr
Ish literature was derived from these books. lie
became great reader at an age when most boys
care for nothing but play. At first he devoured
novels with avidity, but attorward passed to the
historical plays Of Shakespeare, and Mltons Far
udise Lost" In connection with the library the
mother carried on a small retail dry goods shop.
devoted chiefly TO millinery and other articles OF
ladies use. which. though furnishing agreeable oc-
eupation. brought little profit. Her store was the
resort Of the principal ladies Of the neiGhe2rhood,
who dropped in from time to time TO talk over the
last now book AMI enjoy friendly chat about the
latest fashions OF their household troubles.
By the time lac had got to be ten years DID, the
Young Benjamin had shown such love of study
and much talent that his mother began 20 tnink
he ought 10 have college education, bnt did not
sec clearly how II was 10 I've obtained. The difficult
ties were at length surmounted. and the promising
lad became a member of Harvard College IN 1928,
and at once took high rank among his classmates.
His college exercises were all performed with re
even excellence for which he was distinguished
through life. He above medlocnty In all
branches of the college course. though he Gld not
attain any brilliaucy of scholarship, nor display
any power but that of steady industry, and of doing
well whatever 10 be done. He acquired mod
crate know ledge of Greek, which be did not con-
tinue to read excepting m thc New Testament, ana
became pretty well versed in Latin which he kept
NJ he habit of reading through life in the great
Latin authors. He was not fond of quotations from
the ancient languages nor did he love to parade his
learning in any shape. French German, and Span
ish he learned 10 read though he spoke neither, and
pursued "a course of Italian study which ended with
Dante. In 800 he graduated with honors, end inn
Inedately after entered the Law School of the Uni
Nersty
His vocation to the law appears TO have been
natural endowment. In commencing its study. he
followed an instinct of his constitution. During
his college years he devoted much time 10 English
history, reading systematically Hume LIngaId,
md HallaIn thus making the best preparation fol
Blackstone. Coke. and the Reports AT the time of
Lis entering the Harvard Law School ii had re-
ccived a fresh impulse az "a working institution from
the accession of Judge story as Dane Professor,
with his afluent learning and magnetic activity,
md of Mr.. john Hooker Ashmun. then perhaps the
foremost lawyer of his age IN Massachusetts, es-
pecially in the common law and its system of plead
Ing aud the promise of whose brilliant career was
cut oft by his early death There had never before
been such an opportunity for legal education IL
America. The first class composed of graduates
of other colleges as well as of Harvard. and from
various States of the UuiOn some from 10 far a.
Virginia and South Carolina. Young Curtis Was
recognized as one of the foremost men Of this eager
band. He gave constant and abundant proofs o
his peculiar adaptation To the profession of the law
IIis Common Place Book kept at this time shows
lis diligence ia reading and his sagacity I'm pre-
serving what would be useful In practice. From
his earliest professional years he possessed the
power, so necessary to a successful lawyer, of ac-
curaely weighing the value of legal Lore. and St.
Letting the essential points which bore upon the
question at issue. He always considered as a
learned lawyer, but never as pedant.
NJ. Curtis lett the Law School in s31, and soon
otter commenced practice in Mortified. pleasant
country town on the Connecticut River in Franklin
lin County, Massachusetts,. Here he remaiped for
three years. acquiring the reputation of an nc
cOmplisted barrster, able 10 cope with any antag0-
mist whom he might meet I'm that part of the State
His practice gave him an income sufficient for his
immediate wants. but WAS of stll more value to
him as a field to try his powers, and furnish him
with an opportunity for study Ia connection with
business and for acquiring the habit of thorough
preparation of his cases. In the long Winter nights
and Summer DAYS there was plenty of time for dill
gent reading. He thus gained his extensive knowl-
edge Of the Common Law, which be explored in the
pages Of Coke, of the Year Books, and of the later
Reports His collection of books. though not large
was chosen with sound judgment from the most
valuable authorities for the study Of the earlier
law. The statutory and customary law Of Massa
chusetts the law Of real property and real actions
the law Of contracts, and the system of common