The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-11-01

the early life of his old companion, their
school days at Bridgton, of the Cleayes
homestead and the parents, OF his kind
ness to his associates, of his intellectual
attainments, and finally of his character
istics as lawyer, as follows:
81 think his energy and industry were
nowhere more conspicuous than IN the
preparation and presentation of cases
| contested in the courts. he possessed
an intimate knowledge of men, and OF
| the motives which move and govern
them, and although he made no effort to
| be eloquent in his addresses to the jury
he was quite apt to win their approval
and their verdict. He appealed to their
/ reason rather than to their prejudices,
and carried conviction by his own earn
est belief in the justice of his cause. He
| profited well by the advantages afforded
| by his college life and training and as
long as he lived he added new stores of
learning by a'course of judicious reading
and study. He was a scholar not only
| in the science of the law but in those
broader walks of literature which adorn
and illumine the life of a man OF letters.
| He was ready man of business and his
| opinions were valuable, not only
| for their legal acumen and pre-
| cision, but for the practical sagacity,
which ofttimes led the feet of his clients
from places of danger into paths of safe
| ty. He was alike able and unassuming-
with Sir Thomas Browne he believed
| that 'svirtuous actions have their own
| trumpets'' and that it was better to mer-
| it, than to seek the praises of men. 1t
was wise conclusion, and connected
with his life the melody of his many
L i a. 1. q
| left us just when we hoped that he
would in a measure give over the ardu-
GUS labors of his profession and enjoy
1 that leisure which he had so well earned.
| But it was not to be, in the midst of his
success and honors he has laid down the
| burden of life and is at rest. Together
with you my brethren bow my head in
| grief at the common calamity and bid
the playmate of my childhood, the
friend of my later life, the honored jur-
| list and the trusted citizen last and sor-
rowful farewell
Judge A. II. Walker,
| Of Bridgton, described the scenes of
Judge ACleayes's boyhood home in Bridg-
ton. From that home the magnificent
lake and mountain scenery was and is
| open to the fullest view. In home reg
ulated by Puritan principles, Nathan
| Cleaves passed his youth. The daily
round of duties cultivated his powers
| of will and of application. He was a
happy boy, as the scholar of the district
school, of the academy and college. He
was successful, enjoying manly, Shonora-
| BILE victory in the struggles of life.
4 Judge Walker said he wished to empha-
| size the influence that the environments
! of youth had upon this success of after
/ life. The list of public and quasi-pub-.
/ lie positions held by Mr.. Cleaves at his
| death was large. He was prominent in
the affairs of church and Of charity. He
was also large private giver. In his
native town he was universally beloved.
Hanno w. Gage, Esq,
spoke of an afternoon which he had re-
Gently spent with Judge Cleaves in
Bridgton, and the pleasure of that meet
ing. Mr. Gage referred to Mr.. Cleaves's
Bridgton home, his brothers and sisters,
and the influences of the early home in
| the Hio district. His career in college
| and in the law were reviewed by Mr..
Gage in terms of highest eulogy.
| Augustus It. Mou1tons Esq.
| said that in MI. CleaVeS'S death great
loss had fallen upon the profession and
upon the community at large. Judge
Cleaves entered at once upon leadin g
position at the bar The profession of
law is one of antagonisms; yet Judge
Cleaves generally won the respect OF his
opponents while protecting the rights of
his clients. He never allowed his pro-
| l.. tlnr of
4 making the most favorable settlement
for his client. 1t is common error to
think that cunning and deceit are neces-
sary for success at the bar. The career
of our late brother shows the opposite of
this He was engaged in very many
| cases where great interests were involv-
! ed, and in all these relations showed the
highest integrity.
Judge Walton
said that the news of Judge Cleayes's
death had come to him suddenly, and
with that knowledge had come many
memories of his noble and upright char
acter. Judge Walton said that Mr.. JUS
tice Haskell, who was present, would
speak for the Court.
Judge Haskell
said "Since the hour when an eminent
iurist, from this seat, in the words of
Tennyson, said Gods finger touched
him and he slept, we have not been SO
startled by the untimely demise of one
Of us, as when told: Nathan Cleaves is
dead
'sIn the prime of life, at the zenith of
his mental and physical powers, like a
falling star at night, in autumn, he too
/ passed beneath our horizon, and sleeps
his last Sleep Inscrutable Providence
alone knows the reason why. The limi-
| tation of our senses precludes us from
4 knowing why. Implicit submission to
4 the DEGREES of fate, without understand
the reasons for them, may enables us to
bear that load of grief that makes its
owner stoop'; seeing that death neces-
sary end, will come when it will come
s;For more than quarter of a century
have known Judge Cleaves well. When
1 came to this bar, briefless and penni-
1 less, his firm became my friends. Many
is the time they gave me cheering word
and MANY is the load they helped me
bear. Judge Howard was never too busy
| ro aid anv +vro at the har. and Nathan.