The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-13
Fresh Light on the Character Of Rafus
'Choate.

EuOSo ALb8 - Ou SmO Sn0b0CsCs u AN9AuS
Choate.
II has often been said that the fame OF
great lawyers least OF those who conflne
themselves to advocacy. and therefore do
not acquire distinction through their acts
and opinions rs Judges short lived, and
seldom enltlres many years; but almost
quarter OF century has elapsed since
Rufus CHoATR died, and yet his eminence ns
an advocate was never more universally &C.
knowledged and recognized than 1t Is to-day.
His character bore the indlsputnblc stamp Of
genius He excited an interest ON the part
OF his fellow men which has not wanod with
the lapse Of time, and laymen % wcll ne
lawyers arc attracted now. As they were at
tracted during his life, by everything tending
to throw fresh light on his wonderful ability
and marvellous powers.
A notable contribution to our knowledge
Of RUFUS CHOATE IL . volume, Just published,
from the pom Of the Hon. JOSEPH NEILs0N,
who recently retired from the bonch In this
State, after long term OF able and faithful
service as Chief Justice Of the City Court Of
Brooklyn. For many years the author has
been gathering tho materials for this inter-
esting work, which hardly encroaches upon
VIZ AhC'u 0hACOuy OCSupiCu w S4So osssOOAoeo
biography Of CHoXTE written by President
Brown OF Hamilton College, and the volume
Of "reminiscences by Mr.. E. q. PARKER Of tho
Boston bar. It is rather what may be
termed. in the statutory language Of legisln-
tion, "amendatory thereof and supple
mentarv thereto"
In his sketch OF CHoArE's life Judge NEIL
Son, after giving tho main facts. has dwclt
more particularly upon those character.
istics OF the great lawyer which he deems
llkcly to provo most instructive and ell
tcrtaining. He illustrates with numerous
anecdotes his untiring industry. his pro-
digious powers OF memory, his impassioncd
and vehement eloQuencc, bis fondness for
classical studies, and his fastidious literary
taste. In order to arrive ut q correct con-
clusion as to the true character OF Mr..
CHoATE's vocabulary, which has sometimes
been criticised as containing an undue pro-
portion OF words OF foreign derivation, Judge
NELSON has caused a computation to be
made, which shows tho entire number Of
words used by Mr.. CHoATE, emitting repe-
titIons, tn DO II ,693, OF which 1928 are Latin,
3,4A are Teutonlc, and 736 are Greek. A COM
parison Of these figures with the number OF
unrepeatcd words used by twenty well-knOwD
English and American orators and authors
In important speeches or papers, indicates
that thirteen of such speakers and writer's
use larger percentage OF Latin words than
was employed by Mr.. CHoATE
But Judge NBILsoN has done much more
than merely to give us the results of his own
study and Observation-Disclosures and sug-
gestive as many OF his observations ore
upon material already published He has
made substantial additions to the existing
stock OF knowledge concerning RUFUS
CHoATE by seeking Information about
him from those who were his friends or
| acquaintance, and whose letters form the
second half OF tho present volume. They
| comprise communications from seventeen
| persons, many OF them we'll known In public
and professional life, as. for example, the
Rev DR.. RICHARD s. SToRRs. who was II
student In Mr.. CHoATE's office; Senator MATE
CARPENTER, who said, lie was more than n
father to mo, and loved him next to idol
| airy" and Prof. EMORY WAsHBuRE, who
bears testimony to the sweetness which was
| the prevailing element In CHOATE's nature
| Letters from many others are Incorporated
into the text, and all tho writers testify with
Mr.. WILLIAM w. STORY to their admiration
OF "Ono OF the greatest advocates that over
adorned our own or any other country
This Is not the place to make any consider
able extracts such as might be appropriate
In literary roviow, but wo may relate
| one anecdote which Mr.. STORY believes has
not been recorded in print, and which was
| suggested by tho wonderful richness Of
CHOATE's language. MI. Justice WILDE Of
| the Massachusetts, Supreme Court, Oh acute
| and able Judge, is described as having been
somewhat dry and precise In his style and
| manner, thus presenting d striking contrast
| to Mr.. CHoATE "On ono OCCASION" says Mr..
STORY, "iust before the opening OF the court.
when Mr.. CHOATE was to argue case, a
member Of the bar asked the Judge II he had
heard that Mr.. WORCESTER had just pub
lished new edition Of his dictionary, with n
great number OF additional words. No. he
answered, 4 have not heard Of 1t. But for
| COPS sake don't toll CuOATE.'"
Judge NELSON has made valuable addi-
ton to American biographical literature by
tho publication Of these memories Of RUFUs
| CHOATE.