St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-04-12
Ex-ArroRNEY GEN. BREWSTER.
Springfield Republican.

Springfield Republican.
Benjamin Harris Brewster, best
known to the people of the country as
attorney general in President Arthur's
cabinet, and a distinguished lawyer of
Philadelphia, died in that city April A,
from an affection of the kidneys. He
was an able man and an honest one,
possessing marked personal peculiari-
ties, which made him conspicuous
among the oddities of his profession.
He had been sick abOut fortnight,
but his death at nearly Is years of age
was not looked for. The city of Phila-
delphia thus loses her most picturesque
character.
Mr.. Brewster was the son of an emf
nent Philadelphia lawyer, and was
born October ID, 1916, in Salem county,
n. j., where the family had long pos
sessed large estates. He was educated
at Princeton college, graduated in 1884,
and after he had achieved distinction
OF the bar his alma mater conferred on
him the degree of Ii. ID. His profess
siOnal progress was rapid, and at 80
years of age President Polk appointed
him a commissioner to invest gate the
claims of the Cherokee Indians against
the government. His legal business
increased and his fame brOadened I'M
til for more than quarter of century
he has been regarded as the leader of
the Philadelphia bar. From 1867 to
1879 he was attorney general of Penn
sylvania, and a most successful prose-
cutOr. During the prosecution of the
suits growing out of the star route
cases Mr.. Brewster was secured as
fOV Ia ont NV
Acknowledgement Wayne MacVeagh,
and on the refusal of the latter to re-
main in the cabinet, President Arthur
appointed Mr.. Brewster, who had al
ways been a stalwart republican in
politics, to succeed his friend and
neighbOr as attorney general. His eff
forts to bring the perpetrators of the
star route iniquities to justice, and the
lingering failure of the government in
these cases, form familiar story. After
his retirement from the cabinet Mr..
Brewster resumed his practice in Phil
adelphia.
AS a man Mr.. Brewster was singu-
larly interesting, resembling the law
yers of an older generation in his learn
ing and his fOibles. He was an eloquent
and at times brilliant speaker, and
his occasional addresses are entitled to
high rank as literary productions. His
study of the law was extensive and
profound, while in general scholarship,
in love of books and art, and in social
fellowship he was distinguished among
his associates.
His dress was individual to re-
markable extent. The coat was usu-
ally of light cream color, the vest of
as tn q M
cambria ruffies of his shirt, and the
trousers perhaps of black, ending in
white gaiter tops. He wore standing
collars of the old fashioned style and a
black stock, while ruffied cuffs and
fob chain with heavy gold seal were
points of departure from the conven
tiOnal that caught the eye. To crown
all he adhered to white fur beaver
hat, worn alike in winter and summer.
He could never be mistaken for any
thing but a well-dressed and cOurtly
gentleman, who chose to be governed
by notions of his own in the matter of
dress.
The face of Acknowledgement Brew
ster was disfigured by burns received
when a mere child in the rescue of his
baby sister from the fire. A newspa-
per story, current a few years ago, en-
bodied what purpOrted to be Mr..
Brewster's own statement. One of the
lawyers during the trial of a case had
the bad taste to allude to the married
features of his opponent. Mr.. Brew
ster in dignifed and simple language
told of a faithful nurse, wearied with
untiring labOrs, who fell asleep while
holding a little child the tired arms
relaxed, the precious burden fell on
the hearth and when the little one
was saved the face of her rescuer twas
burned as black as the heart of the
man who could twit another of a per
sonal defOrmity !"
Mr.. Brewster was twice married. His
second wife, who does not survive him,
was the widowed daughter of his old
friend Robert j. Walker, secretary of
the treasury. She had supported her
self after her fathers death as clerk
in the treasury department, and was IA
very beautiful woman. The words in
which Mr.. Brewster is said to have
sought her hand are certainly not I'M
characteristic of the man: "YOu are
beautiful, dear madam, and L am hide
Gus, but it will not be the first instance
of the mating of the beauty and the
beast, and although you may never
love me you shall never regret marry
ing me-" 1t was a happy union, for
Mr.. Brewster was devOtedly attached
to his home, and it is to be feared that
he did what he could to spoil an only
son, who survives him.
Such are some of the characteristic
qualities that men saw in one whom
nature cast in large mold. 1t was
not a perfect character, but it was
generous and fascinating one, full of
moods and cOnceits, but sound and
strong at the core. There will be
many to mourn the death of Benjamin
Harris Brewster.