Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-07-31
THE BIG JUDGES.

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full bench for the first time in three
years. I dropped in on court few
days ago. What jolly old set
There was the chief justice, with iron
gray hair, thick and stiff, and whisk-
ers just the same, big nose and a
big mouth, wrapped in his black silk
gown, but looking very little like a
chief justice. But he attends to his
business, leaves politics to the dogs,
and is respected by his associates.
On his right, oldest in commission of
any one on the bench, is Justice Mil
Ter, round and fat, and 64, a little
bald and closely shaven face. On
the bench he is cross as a hatchet,
for he hates circumlocution and sham
(and half the bar is made of them. J
But off the bench he is as jolly and
kind and gentle as any man you ever
saw. He has been regarded fo1
years as. the ablest man on the bench.
The three last appointments on the
bench may change this, but l doubt
it.
On the chief Justices left is JUS
tice Field, appointed as republican,
but now pesky old democrat. He
is tall, bald-headed, spectacled, full
bearded, with Jewish cast of coun-
tenance. Smart he is, too, as all the
Fields are. He writes strong opin-
ions and is popular. He is a most
entertaining companion, and a great
traveller and scholar. Drink? yes,
once in while. Miller and Fields
respectively are the two oldest judges
in commission on the bench. JUS
tice Bradley is the next in order of
rank-a thin, refined, closely-shaven,
| gray-haired, scholarly, judicial-look-
ing old gentleman, who doesn't seem
to have much to say to any one.
Justice Harlan, fourth in rank lex
cepting of course, the chief justice, }
is specimen Kentuckian-a giant
in his way. Big body, big head, big
hands, big feet, long arms and long
headed, without a doubt. He is at
least six feet six inches in height.
He rents furnished house from a
friend Of mine; and my friend had to
have made, especially for the great
Kentuckian, nine-footed bedstead,
mattresses, blankets, sheets, etc., to
correspond, and also one for the son
of the judge, who is tall. Judge
Harlan was a strong acquisition to
the bench, and is popular on the
bench and off. Chew tobacco, did
you say? Well, 1 should think So,
and he knows a glass of bourbon
when he tastes it. There is not much
known of Justice Woods. He is a
grizzly, slouching man, whose per-
sonal bearing and appearance are
not at all striking. He is a Judge
by appointment but he doesn't look
like one. Justice Stanley Matthews
is built on a big model, physically
and mentally. He is self-poised,
dignified and fine looking. AS an
intellectual force he scarcely has a
superior on the bench. He is quiet
in his intercourse and does not seem
to care to extend his acquaintance.
Justice Gray is tall, white-haired,
peppery old bachelor, who snaps at
everybody and had rather quarrel
than win a case. When he first
came on the bench here he was near
ly killed with heavy eating and drink
ing, but that time is over. AS the
old judges are very tenacious of the
rights of the seniors he is not likely
to be popular. Justice Batchford,
the last appointment, looks like
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 fine house on
Massachusetts avenue Judge Field
has a large, well built house on Cap
itol hill-present from his brother
| Cyrus-a portion of what was once
known as the old Capitol prison. In
this building Henry Clay presided
three terms as speaker of the house
and in front of it, James Monroe
and John Quincy Adams were inaug
grated president. John C. Calhoun
died in it. Judge Bradley owns anC
occupies the house on / street which
was given to Gen. Grant, and from
which he was first inauguarted
Gen. Sherman then became the own
er, and from him Judge Bradley pun
chased it. Judge Harlan lives in :
costly rented house Judge WOOD
boards on G street Judge Matthew
is building very imposing and cost
ly mansion on Connecticut avenue
opposite the British legation; Judg
Gray boards at Wormley's, ant
Judge Batchford has just purchased
a $50, 900 house on K street. Th
mutations of time affect even the su
preme court, for of the bench 2,
years ago, not a single judge re
mains-all dead. Only two Judge
of the bench of 12 years ago remain
namely, Miller and Field-all th
others are dead, except Davis, no,
in the senate, and Swayne, retired
From q Washington Letter.
vigorous growth Of the hair Is often promoted |
using Parker's Hair Balsam 1t always restores II