Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-19

mania of rampant and unscrupu)ous
speculation, to which the degenerate
son OF a great father lent himself with
giddy eagerness.
Truly the Field family is a memorable
one, and the laches of single member
of the Junior branch should not be per-
mitted to lessen its fame. In the fall of
1887 or opening months OF 1888 the
eighty-ffth birthday of Mr.. David Dud-
ley Field was celebrated at the residence
of Hon. Stephen J. Field. on East
Capitol hill, in Washington. All that
was illustrious in that city, was pres
ent on this occasion. David Dudley
Field was great lawyer who, in mo-
ments Of enthusiasm, had thrown him
self into the noble project OF unifying
all the codes of the world. There may
be something Utopian in such plan,
but it is in keeping with the Joyous pre-
vision OF Tennyson,
When the wardrums beat no longer, the battle
flags furled.
In the Parliament of Man, the federation of the
world.
1t may be dream, but it is pleas
ant and inspiriting dream, that of bring
ing all mankind un0er uniform system
of law--of a law, let us hope, that should
have some justiee in it.
The remarkable physical vigor of
David Dudley Field, at such an extreme
age, contains in it lesson to the
youth of the United States. The
old gentleman is now in his
ninetieth year. For years it was
his practice to walk to and from
his Office and home. His tall and COM
manding figure and active stride were
among the best known objects on Broad
way. BY his devotion to physical ex-
ercise be was able to reach that con-
summation of the athletic Romans, "a
sound mind in a sound body" His
son, Dudley Field, also lawyer, pre-
ferred cab to pedestrianism and the
father, with thirty years atleast between
them, was bv far the more active and
healthy man of the two when the writer
last saw them together. The great
longevity and physical and Intellectual
activity OF David Dudley Field teach an
impressive lesson as to the value of ex-
ercise in the open air to those who de-
sire to live long and to attain the max
imum of their powers.
From time to time great assaults
have been made on the personal integ-
rity of Judge Stephen j. Field.
The comparative poverty of this
distinguished jurist would seem
to satisfactorily rebut any imputation
of that kind, even with fair-minded
men who are hostile to him. His res
idence on East Capitol hill, in Washing
ton, is replete with interesting associa-
tions. After the British had burned the
national capital and capitol in the war OF
1872, the congress of the United States
held its sessions in this building, which
serves 50 admirably now the Offices of q
private mansion. Here Henry Clay
presided as speaker. This home was
presented to the judge by his brothers,
and he is sometimes in the habit OF
bl1b lhCl w Dlo litllAAaeS
friends, with great pride in their coneid-
crate affection. Ii misfortunes, black
and heavy, have come upon the Field
family, it must be great consolation to
them to know that many gracious things
were done in the days Of their great
opulence.
For decades on decades it has been
the fashion to point to the Field
family as an illustration OF what
can sometimes be accomplished with
a hardy and gifted stock. Four
such distinguished men are very
rarely the contribution OF one family to
a nation or the world. The originator
OF the Atlantic cable, the lawyer stand
ing pre-eminently at the head of his
profession, the able and noted judge of
the supreme court of the United States,
the distinguished editor and divine-all
these in one family form an unusual
..oroh;nation When one reflects that