The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-18
OUR GREAT LAW-GIVERS.

In the August number of the North American ReUtea0 (which, by the way, is one of the best numbers of this mag azine ever issued) Frank G. Carpenter has a most interesting article, entitled "Our Chief Justices off the Bench" The following is taken from the arti- cle:
 The death of Judge Waite shows how little the world knows of our su- preme court judges outside of their gowns. The austerity of the bench shrouds from the public their delight ful personal traits, and the facts that Chief Justice Marshall liked novels,- that John Jay smoked clay pipes that Oliver Ellsworth would rather romp with children than write judi cial opinions-make interesting the study of the chief justices of the United States as men. In this article I propose to look at our chief justices off the bench, and to give the reader some stories and pictures of their pri- vate lives. The first of them was John Jay, and you may see his kind face shining out of the scarlet-gowned DOT trait of him in the supreme court chamber.
 The son of Peter Jay, a rich mer- chant of New York, he came from one of the oldest families of Holland, and he had in him the blood of the Bay ards. He was well educated. His first schooling was under MT. Stoop, French clergyman, who had shrew- ish wife of penurious habits. Young Jay boarded with Mr. Stoop, and it is said that he was often obliged to pro- tect his bed from the drifting snow, and to close up the panes with bits of wood. He was fine talker, and his oratory was secured by much the same methods as was that of Demosthenes. He could not pronounce distinctly, and he had faulty pronunciation of the letter l. He devoted himself dur ing his college days to the study of the rules of elocution, and, by contin- ued exercise, clarified his tones and made his pronunciation perfect. He was hard student, and he paid espe- cial attention to English composition adopting Pope's plan of keeping by his bedside table supplied with writ ing materials in order that he might write down such ideas as occurred to him in waking during the night.
 Some good stories are told of hit college days, and at one time some oi his classmates broke table in the col lege hall. The professors could not identify the offender. They called the class together and, beginning at the head, asked each student two ques- tions. The first one was as to whether the boy had broken the table. The second one was as to whether he knew who did. All of the students except Jay and one other young man replied "no" to both questions. Jay replied that he had not broken the table, but that he knew the offender, but would not tell his name. The same reply was made by Jays friend. The pro- fessors were angry and they expelled both students. They were afterwards taken back, however, and Jay gradu- ated with the highest honors.
 He at once began his legal studies, and that in the office of Mir. Benjamin Kissam, one ot the then noted lawyers of New York. After he was admitted to the bar he was employed in num- Der of cases in which Kissam was the lawyer for the opposite side. One day, when Jay in argument pushed Kissam very hard, the latter said pointing to Jay:
 "Here have brought up 8 bird to pick out my own eyesl"
 "Not to pick out your eyes" replied young Jay instantly, "but to oper your eyes, MT. Kissami" And oi course the court laughed.
 Jay had acquired 8 good practice al the opening of the revolution, but he left it for the service of his country and the greater part of the remainder of his life was taken up by his various public positions.
 He did we'll in every one of them and as minister to Spain he secured loans upon his own credit which the government could never have secured otherwise. When he returned he wal given the freedom of New York in 6 gold box at public reception there and as secretary of state he prac- tically organized the foreign relations of the government. When Washing ton became president he was invited to select his own post, and he chose the chief justiceship of the supreme