Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-05-31

ness. IL Vas force. not weakness. Ii had
endurance and strength, character and
personality. The natural elements work
out more patent results when silently OPP
Grating than when gathered in the buster
ing storm; and gentleness acc .mpiishes
better results than vehemence.
This predominAting mental trait vas de-
veloped and strengthened by other char
acEeristlcs happily blended with it.
His moral nature worked in unison with
the intellectual. The love Of truth and
justice vas an instinct with him He was
remarkable for promptness in al matters.
On all occasions. He had . Zeal of industry.
His quiet energies were well neigh always
At work. doubt if he ever neglected q
duty in his life. know that he rarely
ever postponed the execution Of Any work
to the future, which could in any reasonable
va, be accomplished in the present. lie
wss ever willing to do more than his share
Of judicial work. And. for that reason,
think less than his share was he 'er allotted
70 him. He may not have INDUCED
enough in recreation and amusemenIs,
the counter-weights which help to
balance the burdens Of the mind.
| But there were sunny spots in his
heart which brought enjoyments. He was
fond of friends and social company. lie
WAS lover Of nature and delighted in
rambling over ields and through ihe woods,
Ibis eye craving the spectacle OF the horl-
FOR. of mountain, ocean, river and plain,
the clouds and stsrs."
Judge Danforth, in the practical rather
! than metaphysical sense, possessed a goo
degree of snaly tlcsl and constructive skill.
He had faculty, ssd Abundance OF pa
tience for fostering the faculty. for mas
tering details in compli ;ated cases as his
numerous able opinions in our published
reports will attest; and for applying Old
principles to new conditions, and facts,
when the results worked out are quite nov
| Ell and satisfactory. The style of writing
/ in lis printed opinions is the style OF the
ma, plain and unostentatious, IN
literary quality moe perhaps OF the
cha acter of masonry than architecture
! The real WAS his ideal.
H was very helpful associate in
/ judicial consultations. His temperament
al d thoughtfulness aud appreciation Of
qle stions as they were argued, were
imY ,rtant aids. He never allowed
n.st impressions or first expressions
to hold him to indefensible positions
! never being 80 welded to his own opinlons
As to love them better than he loved the
j trsih Not that he WAS deficient in will or
courage, for therS was ample development
OF 10th 10 his character. He exhibited
great firmness and undsunted courage in
maintaining what he believed to be right
Will never acting rsshly. His convictions
ruled his conduct, the will following rather
than leading the conviction. Such man
often possesses An unusual degree of what
may be called reserve power, pow
er only occasionally called into &C
tion-power behind power-the waters that
linger in the eddy until some condition
arises 10 sweep tht m into the general
stream He possessed such power.
There can be, | suppose. little doubt tina,
Judge Hsnforth lost his life by his too great
fidelity to ddty, in remaining at his post to
long while holding a term of court ia Som
erset, his native and dearly loved county
after q disease then prevalent had become
fastened upon him, which hi, physical
energies were not strong enough success
fully to resist. After several months of Ii.
gering but not painful sickness, he passed
! from earth IS quietly as he had lived upon
! il,
1 Like shadow thrown softly and seetly
from passing cloud. death fell upon him
! To attempt TO penetrate the veil that i.
now drawn bet~een our departed frient
and ourselves would not be the part Of
wisdom in US. But if "the best prepare
ton for the future is the present we'll seer
! to, the last duty done, his spiri, is wit.
the blessed.
II rad not seemed to us that his life wal
20 soon to be tern mated. The frosts ot
age had nos eilvered his locks, nor nst
time made marked burrows upon his brow
But the inevitable edct came, and We are
never to grasp the cordial hand or feel hi,
genial pres nee again. We miss him 10 day
for the first time absent at this term OF
tie court since he came upon the bench
He will be missed by the people of tn,
State. who are indebted to him tor mos
valuable judicial services extending over
period of more than a quarter of a century
and for the example of Judicial honor aot
virtue which he has set before those VI HI
may fill judicial places after HIM. The
niche winch ne viii. occupy in the por IA
gallery of the eminent judges and jars
in this State, who have deceased before
him. will present n conspicuous figure.
: He acted emineatiy well the part chosen
by HIM. Hi. lite was well lived-wel
ended. 1t was a success, happiness It
himself, bles ing to others. The poet
describes him:
The man who knew himself, AMI kne :
the ways before him. and from amongst
them lose con ilerstely, with clear re
sight, .ot b.inifolh courage, AID hav'nl
chosen. with a stesdfast mind pursued bi.
purpose
Tie Gle will en'er the reso'u ions up.
on the records of the court, and in fur
Their respect for the mem0r, of the dece ased
the court will now be a. burned.