The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-09-27

Placed in the court Room by the
County commissioners.

court room was filed with people, among |
them number Of ladies, who had come TO |
witness ceremony which was outside Of
the routine court business. Hon. Il. r.
Ikeler and his associates McHenry and
Murphy sat on the bench, and behind them
hung a picture covered with green cloth.
As soon as Crier Coffman had opened
the court In the usual way, B. F. Zarr Esq
counsel to the County Commissioners,
arose and addressed the Bench as follows
'1f your honors please Before the court
proceeds with its regular business, l wish
to bring TO your attention and the attention
OF the bar Of this county and Of the citi-
zens, a matter in which we all feel lively
interest
1t is known that there presided In these
courts for period Of more than twenty
Ave years jurist distinguished for his leg.
al knowledge, high moral character, cour-
teous treatment Of the bar, uniform kind
ness and impartiality to all-the Honorable
William Elwell.
The best years Of his life were spent
here, and he is to-day a venerable citizen
of the county, one whom the people de-
light to honor. Appreciation OF the qualt-
ties that endear a man to his countrymen
Is testified not more by the rearing OF inn
posing monuments than by giving fitting
expression to the sentiment in their hearts.
There may be In all the walks OF life great
men, but great only when by their acts
they have signally benefited mankind. The
preacher becomes great only when by his
power and persussiveness, he causes men
to reverence and to obey the laws OF God,
The soldier becomes great when by his
conquests over the enemies OF liberty he
gives to people freedom and home the
statesman, when by his wise economy he
secures to them prosperity the philan-
thropist, when he has alleviated human
suffering the Judge when he has faithfully
| administered the laws. True greatness
is always recognized aud honored by the
people, and the man who makes 1t his iife-
work TO labor for the good OF the race IS
entitled to such recognition and to such
honor. He who thus seeks the well bel ng
and the advancement Of his fellows must
make sacrifices, meet and overcome OBJ
staces, forego comforts: he who would sit
| in the gate of the city, judging the people,
must wage q battle between sympathy and
Justice. l.,
The citizens of Columbia county hold In
the highes. estimation the ability and in
tegrity OF Judge Elwell and his reputation
as an able and conscientious administrator
| of the law is not confined TO the limits OF
Columbia county, but extends through
out the length and the breadth OF
the commonwealth OF Pennsylvania and
even beyond her borders. His opinions
and rulings are cited with confidence by
the peader in our courts, and are received
by any tribunal before which they are ad-
duced as authority of weight.
The county commissions Of Colum-
bia, joining with her other citizens in their
Just estimate Of the distinguished service
rendered to the commonwealth by Judge
Elwell, have seen fit, and deemed 1t emil
nently proper, to procure to be painted and
framed this portrait (here Prothonotary
Snyder withdrew the covering,) OF The
Honorable William Elwell, and to place 1t
in this Temple Of Justice-not 80 much q
monument for the past as testimonial to
the future and as an Offering by which he
himself may learn the kindly feeling Of our
token of this sort is deferred until the per-
son who ought to be the recipient OF such
tribute Of grateful affection has passed
into the world of the unseen. 1t is my
privilege (and assure you my plessure)
ON behalf Of the commissioners OF the
county, TO present to the court to the bar
and to the citizens OF Columbia county tnis
portrait of:his honor Judge Ewell."
Judge Ikeler then responded In the fol-
lowing language:
'In behalf of the bench, OF the bar and Of
the people Of the county, we accept this
portrait of Judge Elwell, as an appropriate
memento OF him and of his honorable judi
cial career. 1t cannot fail to be constant
reminder to US who have been intimately
associated with him, to follow 80 far az
possible in his footsteps. OF the present
commissioners of Columbia county q ma
jority at least reside at distance from the
county seat their act is undou btedly
prompted and sustained by the public sen
, timent of respect, admiration and love fol
Judge Elwell, which permeates the county
, to its remotest bounds, but which, great Al
, it is, is only an index OF our appreciation
} OF his merits. We, the members OF thu
bar, have been closely associated with hin
in the administration Of justice, thougl
t ours has been the forensic strife about
question Of property. Of liberty or OF life
while it has been his office well-fulhlled u
8 hold the seat of Justice with her swor'
and scales. Conducting before him un
D awed, unruftied, and uuswayed, our lega
, struggle, we have been taught by his rul
: ings, led by his learning, instructed int
manhood by his digniied bearing. TIL
Q perpetual presence here Of this picture, It
8 minding us of him and Of his character
r will be to us continued incentive to dill
b gence in our calling and to the cultivatio
v of all manly grsces; it will stimulate th
young men in training for the Dar; the
d will inquire Of US and will learn the histor
d of the eminent jurist whom this portr a
q represents, and they will be stirred wit
emulation Of his great sttainments in leg
B lore and Of his surprising virtues as judg,
|, and they will be moved to greater exert tic
9 and infused with new energy In workin
l. onward and upward towards the highei
" ideal OF achievement, and to their usefr
3. ness IN their day and generation.
re II any Of US should be SO fortunate as
arrive at the advanced age that judi
Of Elwell has already reached, he will
ia happy II he is able then TO look back up,
Il. lifs's work as well done as his-up
IN every duty as exactly, as scrupulously,
zealously performed as by him whose lib
a ness we shall then still be permitted to
no hold upon this wall.
in We thank you, Mr. Zarr, in behalf of
u. public, and through you the commi ssion'
Of Columbia county and the people WHIT
lis they represent Tor this valuable and app
ms PIRATE gift"