New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-24
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

PRESIDENT GRANT IN 1870 AND RETIRED
IN 1854 REMARKABLE RECORD or
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Washington. Fcb % SPECIALIZATION have done
me 4 great service. shall ever gratefully remem-
Der your Kindness. seat in the supreme court
Of the United States would satisfy all my anip-
tions except to perform its duties WELL. wrote
Justice Strong 10 President Grant. on his appoint
mot 10 the supreme Court in 1870 He was then
sxty-two years old. and remained on the bencn Ten
years This service in the highest tribunal OF the
Nation was fitting finish to an honoraoie anu
useful official career $3.50
Influenced ny his dread OF mental failure. which
he would hc the last 10 realize and feeling that "e
woull rather his associates would say "Why does
he resign instead OF "Why doesn't ne resign
judge Strong retired years later in fuii nena'
ani physical health. He was tnereupon oHeIeu
position .n one OF the most prominent legal nii'S
in New-York. but refused feeling that after pusy
life 10 had row a resting spell, which he mas
devoted - mos noble uses
Since his retirement Judge strong has continued
to live I'm Washington. He was born al ooine'S'
Conn ana although most of his life has been spent
in PENNSYLVANIA and he represented that STATE
IN Congress from 1871 to ISL and was at one time
iusticc OF its Supreme Court ne Is typical New
Highlander the best type OF the staiwar' SONS o.
that locality. a consistent descendant oil ue Iurl-
tan stock from which he sprung. MS srah'ia'heT'
who hore the enphonious name Of Adonijah. was a
,,,,,,olesarv-t,cneraI in the Revolutionary War
Ills father vas a Presbyterian clergyman ana
clrously WAS ciassmate and warm friend OF
Justice Fields father al Yale.
judge strong is Of good od-fashioned
family Of eleven children. six of whom are still
uvp. three over seventy and three over eighty
wears. old The noted jurist !. himself rapidly
nearing his cighty-seventh birthday, but save MS
venerable appearance and a slight deafness carries
none of the marks OF about him. HIS re-
,nar.able health and vitality are doubtless owing
hal Of
and his fondness for open air sports. stories or
his great physical strength. his prowoss at lool-
ball and his wonderful feats at swimming are
still current at Yale. once he swan across New
Haven HarbOr and back again, and did other re-
inarkable things in the water which are TO THIS
day talked about. Years afterward. while at
Cape May at great personal risk and by the
cxeriion Of almost superhuman strength Judge
Strong. succeeded in saving two men-one OF them
his brother-from drowning that his college
training was of Unreasonable value. 1t is only
within the past few years that he has given up
horseback riding Formerly II was one OF MS
greatest pleasures. and his figure was famiiiar
one on the country roads He experienced. now
ever. two grevous accidents, and was at last
persuaded to take his exercise in safer way
Judge Strong has always been a keen sportsman
He has shot ducks the Potomac and hshed ior
salmon in Canada. but his extreme age has com
RELIED MIN to give up these pleasures although not
his keen interest in them. In fact. Judge strong
has keen interest in everything. in all the topics
o. the day. in politics. and especially in religious
affairs His activity i'm religious work is undated
lie has been for years president Of the American
Tract Association and OF the American sunday
School Union and to him more than TO any one
else the Church OF the Covenant. the largest ana
most popular Presbyterian Church in the iash-
.oiiahe part OF town. in which Mr.. Blaine wor-
shipped and from which he was buried owes its
existence and present thriving condition.
There is a story told OF Judge Strong's hoyhood
+ha hq
had legal bent Young Strong. it seems, pur-
Joined piece OF cake from the table spread Tor
some festival occasion. No one discovered 1t until
the family and guests were seated at table. and
then nothing was said. When every one had gone
and the father was alopc With the youthful epicure
he said him:
Don't you know. NY son. that in taking that
cake you broke one OF Gods commandments?
question s. " responded the boy. who had
the catechism at his tongues end. is any man
able perfectly 10 keep the Commandments OF Cod?
Answer 3 No mere man since the ran i Is ao.e
in this lie perfectly TO- keep the co imeniS
II is not recorded what the reverend father said
bur Il must bee admitted that the boy won MS hrst
Judge Strors is remarkable presiding officer
10 b one a eqqas his e fse the making a from %
and Of drawing them out An old friend once sald
OF him: He is the most consistent and conservative
az sound 3a adSmen d An opinion once
is irm and unalterable; FOR this tcnacity he mas
been accused Of stubborness. but it is a small way
OF looking at the man. - ,,.
decisions which he rendered were In the legal
tender tho State freight and the civil rights cases:
He was also of the five judges on the Electoral
Commission. and during that lime OF intense eN-
element received frequent Threatening ana abusive
letters Twice Judge Strong has refused CABINET
places General Grant was most earnest IN ms de-
sire to have him accept the place OF AtiorneyG
eral. ana President Hayes offered him the Naval
mae strong lives with his two daughters in A
big O.d-fl shioned house in HIST. near four,eehth.
Tho exterior is simple and unpretentous. DUt the
interior is handsome and most agreedbiy arranged
wide hall separates inc long drl"lig-o93iim i Ga
one side from the cOsey livng-room anu dlnlhe-
room the other. The rooms are idrse am dhPIT'
and their adornment snow refined ana ulscI TN
mating taste sunlight pOurS IN from every S.uS'
crer fires glow in the CRATES and through the whoe
house there Is a genial ana hosptaDs aSinCsPne'i
The venerable Judge spends most OF ms un'e IN
MAYS an occa sona game OF solitaire or chats with
some old friend who drops in upon MN ltlS ohe
dissipation Is whist ana once IN a sreaI wic az ~
attends a tea some other social functoh IN
ne days he goes for ,nv i9ns We or OF drve lis
slender figure and kindly, 8eniai lace are !" ire
ouent evidence I'm the street
In the summer Judge Strong and his daughters go
10 Lake Minnewaska in The Shawangunk Noun
fains. The hotel is kept by Mr.. Smiley. one OF the
famous Quaker brothers, whose work among .ile
indians has given them d National reputation here
IIIdgc Strong is able to indulge his penchant Tor
outdoor life Before breakfast he Is out alpenstock
u hand. and goes for twO-me wa X, ci!MDiB
steep and rocky paths. Every possible moment -
sn4rt ont OF doors IN the woods. His love OF ma
inc ana Of little children are marked characters
tics Of this ovable Old gentleman 50 briihaht j"
rlirG 50 simr.e IN heart and life.
Nrs Hincklay has recently finished picture OF
Judge Strong. which hangs in the dining-roon OF OF
sents the Iudge sitting at table ms rgnt arm
and hand resting On be g nortTat is dignifed and
,,i1,sfrc IN. ono cannot help wishing that the
Jude had been painted in his judicial robes