New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-28

availingly The conflict went on. At last, upon
an appeal to him by Ballantine for ruling on
some disputed matter. Lord Coler!dge gently laid
down the pen with which he had been taking
notes leaned forward. and said: Really. gentle
men, as neither Of you seem content with my
opinion think had better let you fight it out
between YOU" II not quite what strong judge
would have said. II was the remark Of q man Of
the world. capable of cynical views.
All his life long Lord Coleridge had held his
own among a group OF very distinguished men,
one secret Of the homage offered him by the
Radical press was, OF course his Radicalism. and
the fact that among men Of his stamp Radicalism
was uncommon 1t usually attracts a coarser
kind Of mind than his. His friendship with Mr..
Gladstone is another reason. The two men had
tastes In common literary, ecclesiastical, theo-
logical and some others. Lord Coleridge had
subtlety OF mind which commended him 10 Mr.
Gladstone who is never so happy as when he Is
ara wing distinctions. Both had read widely in
theological literature. 1t Lord Coerdge's
pride 20 possess one Of the most complete
libraries Of the Fathers and OF patristic theology
~ be found In England outside the British
Museum. He haunted a certain shop in King
William-st. where there was always a stock OF
these respectable foliOs. and where sometimes
a rarity occurred. Few book-cOlectors care for
them. and they never become dear. though I
heard Lord Coeridge say they had more than
doubled in price in his time. He drew material
for conversation from all sources. and delighted
IN anecdote. l once heard him tell, In Mr. CLAD
stones company an anecdote which profoundly
shocked the pious soul OF the great Liberal YET
u was very innocent and ancient anecdote-
that of the Irish judge who told the prisoner
oor,,,c,ed and sentenced TO death that he was
l,or aod 7
an abler Judge" Mr.. Gladstone seemed 10 think
~ hlasphemous but the rest Of the company bore
II with equanimity
perhaps Lord Coleridge was al his best socially.
He had fine manners, not wanting In dignity
-, wanting in charm He was at his ease, yet
alert No conversation seemed beyond his reach
or earisome TO him. If he bored, he had
,hA Detience OF an angel and the smiling cour-
tssv Of a Chesterfield. Nobody could fail 10 be
struck with his appearance and his presence lie
was known for what he was for a long career,
and great one. Born In 1920, Solicltor-1eher"i
before he was fifty, Acknowledgement al III N-one'
chief Justice of the Common Pleas TWO years
later: finally in 1880. Lord Chief Justice OF Eng
Ind. on the whole the most splendid judicial
rosition in the kingdom when its performance Is
taken into account Always distinguished Always
various. always living a full life; always CON-
earned in so many things outside MS
sion as 10 leave him too little time 10 40 justice
~ -, du,,ss and mowers After
OH said Lord Coeridge once. in reply 10 some
sharp public criticism Of some judicial shor'coi"-
ing "a man cannot drift into the Chief Justice
ship without some ability; with an emphasis Oh
osome" He is the fourth eminent judge VINO mas
nassed away within year. Sir James S'epheh'
Lord Hannen Lord Bower went before him. Inc
world will miss him. The judges who are grow
ing no are not of his type; there will be probably
no more Of his type. and not many VINO VIII De-
as he was. an ornament Of the world in whch ne
PLAYED so great part