Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-06-01
THE BIG WIGS.
A Look at the Men Who Compose the
Court Of Last Resort.


Court Of Last Resort.
Fl. J. Ramsdell in Philadelphia Press.
1 dropped in on the supreme court a
day or two ago. What jolly old set!
There was the chief justice, with iron
gray nalr, thick and stiff, and whiskers
just the same, big nose and big
mouth, wrapped in black silk gown,
but looking very little like a chief JUS
tee. But he attends to his business,
leaves politics to the dogs, and is re-
spected by his associates. On his right,
oldest in commission of any one on the
bench, is Justice Miller, round and fat,
and "a, little bald, and closely-shaven
face. On the bench he is as cross as
Ratchet, for he hates circumlocution and
shams land half the bar is made oftheml !;
but off the bench he is sjolly, and kind,
and gentle as any man you ever saw.
He has been regarded for ten years the
ablest man on the bench. The three
last appointments on the bench may
change this, but doubt it.
On the chief JUSTICES left is Justice
Field, appointed as republican, but
now a pesky old democrat. He is tall,
bald-headed, specialized, full bearded,
with Jewish cast of countenance.
Smart he is, too, as all the Fields are.
He writes strong opinions and is popu-
lar. He is a most entertaining compan-
ion, and great traveller and scholar.
Drink? Yes, once in while. Miller
and Field, respectively, are the two old
est judges in commission on the bench.
Justice Bradley is the next in point
of rank-a thin, refined, closely.
shaven, gray-haired, scholarly, judicial
eekn 6 od gen t g yh 70 a6E ane
Justice Harlan, fourth in rank Except
ing, of course, the chief JUSTICE, is a
specimen Kentuckian-a giant in his
way. Big body, big head, big hands,
big feet, long legs, long arms and long
headed, without doubt. He is at least
six feet six inches in height. He rents
q furnished house from q friend OF
mine, and my friend had to have made,
especially for the great Kentuckian, a
nine-foot bedstead, with mattress, blan-
kets, sheets, ETC., to correspond, and al
SO one for the son Of the judge, who is
as tall. Judge Harlan was strong &C
tobacco, did you say? Well, I should
bon when he tastes it. There is not
much known of Justice Wood. He is a
grizzly, slouchy man, whose personal
bearing and appearance are not at all
stricking. He is Judge disappointment,
but he doesn't look like one. Justice
Stanley Matthews is built on big mod
Ell, physically and mentally. AS an in
tellectual force he scarcely has a supe-
rior on the bench. He is quiet in his
intercourse, and does not seem to care
to extend his acquaintance. Justice
Gray Is a tall, white-haired, peppery
old bachelor, who snaps up everybody
and had rather quarrel than win a
cause. When he first came on the
bench here he was nearly killed with
heavy eating and drinking, but that time
is over. AS the old judges are very te
nacious of the rights of seniors, he is not
ikly to be popular. Judge Blatchford,
the last appointment, looks like your
own George w. Childs and is therefore,
clean, genial, affable, well dressed and
kindly natured-else looks do not count
Chief Justice Waite lives in hand
| some house on Rhode island avenue
Judge Miller owns house on Massa-
chusetts avenue. Judge Field has a
large, well built house on Capitol hill-a
| president from his brother Cyrus-a por-
tai prison. In this building Clay presid.
ed three terms as speaker Of the house
in front of this James Monroe and John
Quincy Adams were inaugurated presi.
dent. John G. Calhoun died in it
Judge Bradley owns and occupies the
house on street which was given to
Gen. Grant, and from which
| he was first inaugurated
Gen.Sherman then became the
owner, and from him Judge Bradley
purchased it. Judge Harlan lives in a
costly rented house; Judge Woods
boards on G street; Judge Matthews is
building q very imposing and costly
site the British legation, Judge Gray
boards at Wormley's; and Judge Blatch.
ford has just purchased $4,000 resi-
dence on K street. The mutations of time
affect even the supreme court, for of the
| bench twenty years ago not Q single
Judge remains all dead. Only two
judges of the bench Of twelve years age
remain, namely, Miller and Field al
the others are dead, except Davis, now
! in the senate and SMavna. retired