The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-14
TWO GREAT LAWYERS.
Judge Black and Matthew Carpenter-The
Epitaph for the Latter.
Milwaukee Sentinel.


ship is scarcely found than that which eX-
listed between two great lawyers, the late
Judge Black and the late Senator Carpenter.
Admiration for the legal learning of one
another was the basis of the relation which
grew to be one of the strongest possible,
Judge Black looked upon Senator Carpenter
much as father looks upon brilliant son
with tender charity for all his faults and
an atfectionate pride in his talents Judge
Black had lively consciousness of his own
greatness as a lawyer As age came on and
he felt that he was losing in
legal strength, he said: Yes, I'm los
ing a little, but Matt is gaining, and
between us we manage to hold good share
of the legal attainments of the world" Out
side the immediate family of Senator Carp
enter, no one felt the death of the brilliant
lawyer more than Judge Black. When the
movement for Carpenter monument was
started, Mrs Carpenter was requested to Sc
lect some one to write the epitaph to be in
scribed upon it. Naturally the selection fell
upon his great friend, Judge Black. A few
weeks before his death, Judge Black wrote
and sent to Mrs. Carpenter the epitaph,
which is now published for the first time.
We are indebted to DR.. William Fox, the
physician of Senator Carpenter and a warm
friend of Judge Black, for copy OF the
memorial and for an abstract from the letter
of Judge Black to Mrs. Carpenter concern
ing it. In his letter Judge Black said
"You and your own immediate family are
responsible for the inscription if you adopt
1t; and that responsibility meaps some
thing, for if it be grossly overcome or come
tardy off it will mar the Better reputation
which better epitapI; would leave him.
Therefore suggest Tor your consideration
some OF the detects of it. In the start per-
Haps, you viii think it somewhat extrava-
CAN'T mean the words with which it be-
gins, The most accomplished orator. ETC.
| cannot mend that for l think it true, and
| will have no hand in damning him with
faint praise. He was first with a long in
terVal between him and the second. You
can better it all through by making it short
er and sharper. But while | wish it to be as
your taste and judgment may dictate, l
warn you against too free a use of your own
pruning-knife, for you labor under some of
the disabilities which unfit me for such a
composition. Better get a cooler band than
either of u.s. Consult some of your good and
wise friends, and see what they advise in
the way of modification.
1.-The religious point puzzled me some.
believe he had the faith and the hope as
am sure he had the charity of Christian,
but do not know-fOr that is one of the
subjects upon which he and l never talked
Howsoever the fact may be, the future felc-
ity of dear friend, whether his life has been
good or evil, is such commonplace topic of
mbstone eloquence, that | omit it without
regret.
There are some phrases you may wish to
change-do it without hesitation. Some are
doubtful-for instance, swallowed up for
which would have used the weaker figure
absorbed or something equivalent only
that Paul mot Paul Carpenter but Paul the
Apostle OF the Gentiles)i is authority for those
words in that sense.
The arrangement of lines have no analogy
to written or printed compositions. Now
do not know that there is any rule about it.
Ii is an artistic question, depending perhaps
on the size, shape or aspect of the surface on
which they are to be lettered. l think any
marshaling of the lines is reasonably good
and it ought not to be much changed for a
light reason. Some words ought to be made
prominent, larger or in stronger relief than
others. | have not indicated them"
The epitaph exhibits Judge Blacks great
admiration for Senator Carpenter as an orator
and lawyer, and his deep affection for him
as man. 1t reads thus
MATTHEW HALE CARPENTER.
The most accomplished orator of his
day and generation.
He addressed no audience
that he did not charm,
and
Touched no subject that he did not adorn.
First among senators and foremost of
Statesmen,
He was mighty in word and in Deed,
True to his country ana his conscience,
His public career
stainless as it was lofty.
He was worthy to stand
as he did,
At the head of the legal profession,
because he was
Profoundly versed Ill its learning,
A thorough master of its practical rules
and
irresistibly powerful in forensic debate.
let his family and all his associates,
including the rivals he surpassed
are apt to overlook his shining talents
as they recall the generous kindness
of his neart;
and
admiration of the great jurist,
the eloquent advocate,
the brilliant senator,
the matchess political leader.
is lost 10 them and swallowed up
in personal affection
for the Man.
Now that both of these great lawyers and
warm friends have passed away the tribute
of one to the other will be read with inter-
est, aside from the fact that this tribute will
be inscribed on a monument to Wisconsin's
brilliant orator.