Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-08-22
SATURDAY.
JUSTICE STEPHEN ]. FIELD.
His Early Life In CalifOrnia-His
Literary Training and Plans for
the Future-PrObable
Successor.
Nam York WnrldA

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
filling his place with Democrat. I'm
doubtedly Attorney General Garland will
be selected if there is no earlier vacancy.
Justice Field intends to devote the re-
mainder of his life to literary work. Very
few men who have lived eventful lives as
public officials ever take the time or the
trouble to sit down in the quiet of their
libraries and record their observations.
Washington to-day has great many men
who have abundant leisure to contribute,
and rich experience with which to make
contributions to the history OF their time.
None of them, however, have had more
eventful life than Justice Field. He was
one of family of five brothers, four of
whom are now living and are prominently
before the public. When the Justice was
a young lad, thirteen years of age, he
went to Smyrna with his sister, who mar
ried missionary. He was in Smyrna
for several years, and acquired during his
stay there quite a knowledge of Oriental
languages. He also learned to speak
French. 1t was his idea when he went to
the East to fit himself for professorship
of Oriental languages in some Eastern
college. During his stay in 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 a school
for the education OF young ladies'. This
school became afterward a great success.
In it have been educated 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. Mr..
Hill, too, is now dead, but he lived to
reach the age of ninety-two.
THE AsIATIc PLAGUE.
In this "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. Al
though he moved in the very midst of
these two terrible epidemics, he escaped
sickness. He acted as nurse in attend
ing number of the cholera patients.
But in the plague he was able to no moth
ing. He says that dread disease is be-
yond human help or knowledge, so far as
any present discoveries have reached
The touch of a 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
fees 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 din |
ner 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 |
was high. A toast was about to be drank. |
The guests, too, turned to pledge each |
other and saw one of the servants who |
was waiting upon the table dead. In
stantlv they all cried, "The plagued"
and in the briefest moment of time every
one had fed, leaving the wine standing
in the glasses, the toast undrank. No
one entered thai house for year after
wards, and when they did, after employ
ing in advance the most powerful disin-
they found there the dried and
decayed remnants 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.
EARLY LIFE IN CALIFORNIA.
Loc G,,seboJ l;o ,.or,i-