The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-22
RECOLLECTIONS OF LORD CHIEF
JUSTICE COLERIDGE.
Fifth Paper.)

Chief Justice in the Law Courts at Lon
don and as host at dinner party at his
mansion in Sussex Square. l had also wit
messed the peacock parade at church, of
which he was the central figure, and I
was now to have the pleasure of meeting
him and his family in less formal way
at Sunday dinner Some correspondent in
a letter recently published spoke of Lord
Coleridge's beautifully modulated voice.
and how, in cross-eXamining an unwilling
witness. he could win him over by the
sweet courtesy of his words and manner
He had no faith in the "bow-wow'' style
with which ignorant lawyers attempt to
browbeat witnesses until the jury and
Judge are exasperated, but took the witness
into his confidence, so to speak, and, main
tanning the attitude of an honest and ear
nest seeker after the truth, usually sue
ceeded in getting perfect disclosure. This
was a great gift or talent, rather and
the play of il in familiar talk with the
members of his family was beautiful to
see. Without abating one jot of his dig
nifty he put everybody present upon a level
with himself. and for the time being the
Lord Chief Justice disappeared and the
man Coleridge manifest. though the
ladies' invariably addressed him in half
playful way as 'Chief." 1t is not necessary
TO speak of the dinner. or of the manner
in which it was set forth and served. The
English dinner is one of the great triumphs
of social life. and it is seen in its perfec-
ton when given by such hosts as Lord
and Lady Coleridge. AS TO the menu, 1 did
not think of it; as to the ladies' toilettes,
they were in such perfect good taste that
they did not attract attention, and the
light-footed serving men came and went
so quietly that they seemed to perform
their offices by magic. Lord Coleridge was a
prince of takers, and his talk was Of the
great men he had known and of the great
books with which he was familiar. He
spoke much of his friend. Matthew Ar
mold. living as boys together in Devon
shire, when they were six and seven years
old. Coleridge being Arnold's senior by one
year. Even then, deep in their studies of
Latin and Greek, there was formed per-
sonal and literary friendship which was
only interrupted by death. At an age when
our American boys are making mud pies
in the kindergarten Coleridge was reading
Virgil under the tuition of his celebrated
aunt, Sara T. Coleridge. Speaking of Ar
mold. he said that as son, husband, father,
brother. chum. friend and companion he
uine gentleman. Once Coleridge had the
right to make nomination for membership
of somebody at Oxford; do not remem-
Der what the place was. but it was abso-
lutely necessary, that the candidate should
make a speech, and Arnold had never made
one Coleridge named Arnold for the place,
and notified him that he would be expect
ed to make a speech Mat, you must make
a speech" said Coleridge.
But 1 can't" said Arnold; II never did
such thing in my life
But you must; otherwise you cannot be
elected
''Well, I'll try said Arnold, despairingly
ut was very poor speech, indeed" said
Lord Coleridge, but it fulfilled the cond-
ton"
Lord Coleridge was severe in his crit
icisms of Louis Napoleon and the Empress
Eugene. He had known the former per-
sonally, and knew enough of him to know
that he was a beast. As Emperor of the
French he did everything in his power TO
minister 20 the lowest tastes of his people
that they might tolerate his dynasty. He
had once denounced Eugene publicly, and
she was the only woman he had ever felt
called upon TO treat in that manner. AS
Empress she was 3, cold-blooded, scheming
woman, cruel and ambitious, and was
more than anyone else responsible for the
Franco-German war and all the suffering
il caused and the humiliation of France.
While he had no criticism to make of the
Queens official recognition Of the deposod
En- Iress, he found fault with her fondness
and liking of a woman of such a history
and character-it tended to salve over and
give sort of approval to character
thoroughly corrupt There has been an ef-
fort of late in some of the English period
icals TO excuse or palliate the conduct of
Eugene in forcing her husband and son
to take part i'm the disastrous campaign
which had such a swift and disgraceful
ending at Sedan, but the public voice and
the verdict of history will be against her
lie told a story of the elopement of the
late Charles Mathews, who ran away with
Mrs. Davenport, who had a son by her
lawful husband. Mathews carried away
mother and son, and he was such a jolly
good stepfather that the boy-now Il man
calls himself Mathews and is known by
no other name. Many of the readers of
the Journal will remember Mr.. Mathews
and his engagement at indianapolis, during
which he appeared in some Juvenile parts,
about twenty-five years ago. Cool as a
Cucumber was the title or a farce
comedy. which believe he wrote
himself. and in which he played
the leading part. He was then on his
way TO England and had been year in
Australia and California. He was tired of
the everlasting sunshine and was pining for
an English drizzle and London fog In
company with Mr.. Halford | called on him
at the Bates House. where we found him i'm
a happy mood. We were having a nasty
February day, and Mathews said he began
to feel like he getting home again. He
did not allow us to go without cracking "A
bottle of wine with him. OF Charles Math-
ews, the elder Lord Coleridge said that he
was the most versatile and remarkable man
he ever saw on the stage. With "a plain
green curtain for a background, a table
and chair and a box filled with trumpery
for setting, Mathews would come on in
for two hours would keep the audience i'm n
roar OF laughter at his story telling and
characterization During the vacations
Mathews would visit Yorkshire, I.anca shire
and other localities to gather stories and
learn the dialects. He confessed that the
Devonshre dialect was too much for him.
Macready (which he pronounced "Macree-
dy'D was also an actor of great power and
versatility. The actor who was TO play
Richmond 10 his Richard once asked.
Where shall l hit you. Mr. Macready? >"
Wherever you can, sir" was the answer
NTacready WAS parfect ma 81 Of fapc.