The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-09

POLITICAL "REMINISCENCES.
Justice Field to Retire from the Supreme
Bench and Write Book.
7. @. Crawford, in New York World.
Justice Field will remain upon the bench three
years longer He intends to retire when he has
served twenty-five years upon the bench This
will give President Cleveland an opportunity of
filing his place with Democrat. Undoubtedly
Attorney general Garland will be selected if
there is no earlier vacancy. Justice Field in
tends to devote the remainder of his life to lit
erary work. Very few men who have lived
time or the trouble to sit down in the quiet of
their libraries and record their observa-
TONS Washington to-day has q great
many men who have abundant leisure to con-
tribute, and rich experience with which to
make contributions to the history of their time.
None of Them however, have had more event
full life than Justice Field He was one of a fam
lily of five brothers. four of whom are now living
and are prominent before the public. When the
Justice was young lad thirteen years of age he
missionary. He was in Smyrna for several
years. and acquired during his stay there quite
knowledge of Oriental languages. He also
learned to speak French 1t was his idea
when he went to the East to fit him.
self for professorship of Oriental languages in
some Eastern college. During his stay the
East he went with Mr.. and Mrs. Hill to
the southern part of Greece for visit The
Hills went from Connecticut to Greece for the
purpose of establishing school for the educa-
ton of young ladies. This school became after
wards great success. In it have been edu-
Gated all of the young ladies of the leading
families Of Greece Several years ago Justice
Field revisited the Eastern places where he had
passed so much time in his boyhood. Although
over fifty years had elapsed he found the Hills
still living. Mrs. Hill died only the other day at
the age Of eighty three MIR. Hill, too, is now
Dead but he lived to reach the age of ninety
two.
In his "reminiscences of the past the Justice
will describe the incidents of the terrible plague,
which he witnessed when he first lived in the
East He saw both the Asiatic cholera and the
plague Although he moved in the very midst
| of these two terrible epidemics he escaped sick
ness. He acted as nurse in attending num-
Der of the cholera patients. But in the plague
he was allie to do nothing. He says that that
dread disease is beyond human help or knowl
edge. so far as any present discoveries
have reached. The touch of man who has the
real plague is sure contamination. Ninety per
cent of those who have the plague die. When
man is taken every one flies from him.. He is
instantly deserted and left to fight with the most
terrible of epidemics alone His death is almost
sure to follow within the twelve hours following.
The Judge recalls very dramatic scene which
occurred at dinner at which he was present,
during the early days of the epidemic. The
guests were seated about brilliantly lighted
board. The social spirit among the guests
high A toast was about to be
drank. The guests, too, turned to pledge each
other and saw one of the servants who was wait
ing upon the table fall dead. Instantly they all
cried ''rhe plagued" and in the briefest moment
of time everyone had fed leaving the wine
standing in the glasses. the toast undrank. No
one entered that house for year afterwards,
and when they did, after employing in advance
the most powerful disinfectants, they found
there the dried and decayed remains of the feast
with the grinning skeleton of the servant who
had waited upon them lying in his clothes, just
where he had fallen the night of the banquet.
After the Judge has finished his "reminiscences
of the East he will be able to recall some very
interesting chapters of early life III California.
He was one Of the first to visit that country
after the gold fever had broken out. He has
been through all of the exciting periods CT the
growth of California into State and has had
number of thrilling personal adventures This
grave and staid judge who appears so solemn
and passlonless in his silken gown upon the
Supreme Court bench, when young man in
California carried the weapons of duelist and
asserted himself ia the only way that man,
could hold footing among lawless men who had
no respect for any man who could not prove his
physical courage. The most interesting chapter
of his California life was when he headed the
Union movement and helped to hold California
true to the government. 1t was doubtless owing
to his prominence in this that caused Mr.. Lin
coin to appoint him to the Supreme Bench.
judge in Washington covers one of tho most
interesting periods in our history. He has
talked with all the leading heroes of the war,
and has preserved from their stories many his
torical incidents. His own part in the Supreme
Court has been an important one. Some of its
most valuable decisions have been made during
the last quarter Of a century. Justice Field has
fondness for writing. His literary training
and his wide experience must combine to make
most readable books He hopes to secure before
he retires from the bench an increase in the num-
Der of justices of the court and of the Circuit
Court judges. He believes in raising the num-
Der of the Justices to fourteen, with quorum
requiring only Six He says that the present ad-
mnistration of justice in the Federal and Su-
preme Courts amounts to practical denial OF
justice. The judges all overworked, and
have more than they can do. He has already
talked with the President upon the subject and
has asked him to recommend such legislation
to Congress. If such measure could be
passed during Mr. Cleveand's time it
would still leave the Supreme Court under the
control of the Republicans. Eight out of the
nine Justices are now Republicans The Pres-
dent observed in his conversation with the Just
ice upon the subject that such bill would prob
ably affect his Cabinet. This was plain init
nation that there were one or two candidates in
Supreme Court bench. Mr.. Garland's
wishes in this matter are we'll understood.
1t is now said that Mr.. Bayard also
would like to retire at future time
from the CdUlneC 10 secure pOSltOn upon the
Supreme Court bench. He has hardly enough
reputation as lawyer to justify any such APP
pointment. 1t is understood that the Repub
lican Senate will oppose any attempt to increase
the Supreme Court justices during Mr. Cleve-
lands term. 1t is a matter however, which will
be very warmly pressed The Democrats are
specially anxious to secure representation upon
the bench of the federal courts throughout the
country.
THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.