The Portland daily press., 1889-05-15

Subsequently,, he succeeded Chief Justice
Tenney as lecturer on medical jurisprudence
and still later became professor thereof at the
Maine Medical school; and in 1881 and 2, he
revised the entire public code OF the State,
which remains as monument OF his inteii-
gence and msrvellousindustry.
He was IA keen observer Of men and things
and measured all by his standard OF right and
wrong. His mind was microscopic, whereby
he acquired a large knowledge Of common,
every day facts in their minutest detail; Il was
telescopic affording him clear perception Of
all matters which came within the constantly
widening field Of his inquisitiye, penetrating
researches, and enabling him 10 take in and
carry out to their logical conclusion legal and
constitutional principles as well as abstruse
moral ard philosophical problems; and IL was
encyclopaedia, containing much information
about almost everything.
Along with his indomitable will he
had great penetration, nice diserimi-
nation, large original suggestion, with
memory which methodcally stored for
future use every scrap Of fact and principle
which ever came within the grasp Of his ohser-
vation and reflection.
His wide commerce with mankind, at home
and abroad, earned for him a superior knowl-
edge of human nature; and recognizing the
distinction between reputation and real charae-
ter, he did not always and necessarily take
every man OF woman at their own respective
estimate.
His arguments to the court were the logical
presentation Of his exhaustive researches OF the
law involved, and his addresses 10 the jury full,
incisiye, frequently sparkling with wit, and all
permeated with the real professional gassdiuss
eertaminis. He was the soul Of honor, and re-
spectful and courteous TO the bench and bar.
In fact, he was a good lawyer, and possessed
the potentiality Of an eminent one. But his
rare versatility and thirst for knowledge gen.
orally would not be appeased by such pro-
fessional practice as his surroundings afforded.
And while he had not infrequently seen ex-
emplifed, in men Of unquestioned talent and
professional ability, the results Of their not
needing the inexorable exactions Of his
favorite 'jealous Mistress and while,
during his earlier and later manhood's
active life, he devoted himself exclu-
sively to her service, nevertheless, during sew
eral Of his best years. he took the responsible
ty of worshipping at other shrines and suffered
the inevitable consequences Of his first loves
frowns and impatience Of rivals.
His mind never slumbered or slept He was
a vigorous thinker and reasoner, ready and
perspicuous writer and forcible and brilliant
speaker and talker on the various topics of the
times.
His opinions were a part Of himself some,
the result of years Of earnest thought and
careful deliberation. and none, hastily formed
or easily abandoned, and if not aggressive, he
was at least frank and fearless in their de-
fence; and never being able to perceive the
virtue there was in vice" he never spoke Of the
latter with bated breath. In fact he despised
craft under whatever garb arrayed; but the
naked truth as he saw her illuminated his
81
component Of the "eternal years" that he pub
licly no less than privately embraced her
wherever found, in morals, law, theology,
philosophy or politics.
In his clear perception of duty he distinctly
recognized the voice of God and found his
truest happiness in following it. His morality
was Of the most robust type and his moral
courage was never taxed beyond its strength
However earnestly some Of his friends, OF
bitterly those whom he did not count as such,
challenged the soundness of some of his peou-
liar views. none ever questioned his personal
or professional integrity or his fidelity to the
several important and responsible trusts which
the State and nation committed to him.
Though he did not disdain the approbation-
published or spoken, Of others, popular clamor
did not deter, nor popular favor beguile him
from zealously pursuing whatever he had con-
cluded 10 be right.
His heart instinctively turned toward young
members of the bar, as has been frequently
attested by their warmly expressed apprecia-
ton Of his kindly and encouraging acts and
suggestions. In fact, his heart was open to all
save, perhaps, very few which the New Tes-
tament-with which he was so familiar
declares should not be excepted. At any
rate, never did Rochefoucaulds experience
of that ''nameless. shadowy satisfaction in the
y e L - l-fs- L
ever temporary lodgment like feeling toward
those whose antagonism he had incurred, may
have found there.
Finally, it is no exaggeration to say that, by
more than fifty years of careful, persistent.
systematic development Of superior moral and
intellectual ability, he ripened into one whose
amplitude of learning and culture made him
a re faeto doctor Of laws; and however grati-
flying to him would probably have been a de
jlve degree of that purport conferred by his
alma Mater whom he so devotedly served and
loved. no such reflected lustre was really
needed to render his name distinguished or to
perpetuate his memory among his contem-
poraries.
nort1is, etc., some hypercritic who never
shared his friendship should feel inclined, in
view of all the words Of commendation
which have been published and spoken
concerning him since his decease,
to insinuatingly ask-Was he, then,
altogether goodi my answer would be:
No such profession ever came from him, nor
any such claim from his friends. He would
be wasteful miner in the worlds vast quarry
of human character who should fail to discover
that the gold Of good deeds and right instincts
is none the less pure and valuable because
mingled with the quartz Of mistaken notions;
and that wien time shall have crushed the en-
tire mass. the former alone will survive while
the latter will mingle with the dust of oblv-
ion. The imposing front Of the Baxter
building" with its model architectural beauty,
is not made up altogether Of solid "Long
Meadow freestone" and "Ohio sand stone" !;
for very different material crops out between
the respective blocks and layers which COM
pose and give tone and character to that mag
nificent edifce. So like every other person
who lived on this earth save one land even he
disclaims the excepton) Judge Goddard had
his "pet irrationalities' which occasionally
might be visible on the surface to those who
had personal familiarity with such frailties;
but in spite of all such foibles, his overshadow-
ing moral and intellectual traits were what
made him the marvellous man thathe was.
Let the resolutions be spread upon the record
Of the court, and in token Of respect for his
memory, the court will now stand adjourned.
RAILWAY MATTERS.