The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-14
Brains Which Earned $500 per
Day.
\ ours respectfully,
II. f.. FRIES Sect'y

LONDON, May S.--Judah i. Ben
jamn, the distinguished lawyer, died in
his apartments, Paris. He had been in
failing health ever since he fell while
descending from car several years ago
Judah Peter benjamin. was born il
Santa Cruz, one of the Islands of the
British West Indies. in 1912. Of Jewish
parents, who emiGrated to Charleston.
;. c., in 1916. His parents were poor,
but good old Israelite, an uncle, at
tracted by his wonderful precocty, as
~umed the payment OF college term.
and he was. at the age Of sixteen. sent
to Yale College. In brief period after
his entrance at Yale he achieved the
highest place in all his classes, and
amazed the professors BY his proficiency
and capacity Of mas tcring every depart
ment Of learning science.
,, Involved through some of his associ-
atcs III a college scrape, Benjamin had
the misfortune to become MARTYR Of
the folly and recklessness Of his com
panions. and to suffer expulsion Thea G.
for
Benjamin went to New Orleans,
studied law was admitted to the bar III
1881, and soon rose TO a high rank in
his profession. lie entered prominently
into politics, at first as a Whig hut al
terwards attached himself to the Demo
cratic party, IN consequence of the posi-
| tlon ot the two parties on the slavery
question. He was elected to the nited
States Senate in 1852. and reelected III
1858. his colleague being John Slidcll
On December 81, 1850 III a speech IN
the Senate. he avowcd his adhesion to
the Contederacy. and on February 4.
1861, Withdrew from the Senate, and
was appointed attorney general III the
provisional Confederate government.
In August he was appointed acting Sec
| retary of war. but resigned in February
lSC2. on account of having been cen
sured by a Congressional committee.
| He. however. retained the confidence OF
President Davis, by whom he was APP
pointed secretary OF State, retaining that
position until the overthrow of the Con-
tederacy.
After the suppression Of the Rebellion
and capture OF Jefferson Davis, Mr..
Beniami made his way TO point near
Key West. where he embarked in IA
small sall-Loat, open aud without deck,
for Nassau aud he used TO relate how,
when the Gulf Stream almost carried
them out INTO the open sea, when bat
tlng against head wind and out OF
sight OF land (tor one hundred miles was
the distancc). and with one bushcl oi
raw sweet potatoes TO feed three men, :
when almost without hope. at the last
moment the wind changed, filled their
small sail, carried them within sight OF
the lighthouse, and enabled them TO ef-
feet a landing Just at the extreme north
ern portion OF the bahamas.
IN September, 1865, he landed in
| England, and in June following was adj
mitted to the bar. In 1865 he publish
ed his Beajamin on Sdies. having in the
| intervening years supported himself by
! writing leading articles for the neHspa-
| pers. The first year lie made about
goo. the next year about t400, and
IN the fourth year. said he not very
| long ago, my income was cl.OOO. II
aIidly increased after that. Ny book
gave me my practice, and now. wonder
| tul to relate, | have, upon looking over
my cases Yesterday, just onc-hali OF the
| cases from the realm Il e, the whole
| Of England. Scotland and lreland) be-
| tore the House of Lords on the appeal. y
! His law offices in London were the most
visited in the whole country. 4 cores
! pondeut recently wrote: The name oi
| Judah L. Benjamin. as painted on the
door of his London office, has a tremen-
| dousiy elongated ''J'' introducing the
;ir-t word. 4 solitary looking ''P' III the
middle. and the whole is brought to an
Gngraceful termin tcn by gigantic
N \ quaint hnockcr, which has
done service Tor over one hundred years.
! hangs over the si-n. Mr.. Benjamin
] Sa.s that iii this office he has earned
| SGgj U,4 since IEG7