The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1895-08-24
THE JUDGES DIAMOND.
Members Of the Bar Express their Good
Wishes fer Judge Hagans.

In our last Issue mention was made
Of the lawyers invading Judge Ha.
gans' home and presenting him with
very handsome diamond shirt stud
Col. r. f. Fast made the presenta
ton speech in the following very APP.
propriate words
Your Hoaor:-The members oftht
Morgantown Bar advised Of the fact
that YOU have reached the point in
your life which marks the end of the
fifty seventh year have assembled
here to night for the purpose of cele
brating #ith you that event, and fol
the purpose of extending to you our
best wishes for Your health and pros
perity ontil that ripe old age has
been reached when man must, in the
course of nature, yield to the inevi.
table dissolution. At the age Of 81
man has before him, ordinarily, 8
large part of ripe and valuable life
TO live. 1t is from the period of the
prime of manhood onward that the
laudable desire Of posthumous fame
most strongly manifests itself in
man. and it is from that period on
ward that the desire is oftenest re
wafded Every one within bis own
circle Of society looks forward with
the hope that his memory will be
cherished, his faults overlooked and
excused, and his virtues adorned in
their loyeliest eolors
After a long practice at the bar
service in various positions of trust
in your state and country, You were
honoled in the prime of life by an
election by the people to the grave
and responsible office of judge OF
your circuit. There in your high
position of trust and honor it has
been your fortune and your honor tc
preside with that degree of judicial
honor and integrity that carries with
it the merited recognition of the just
and upright judge, There it has
been your fortune to sit as the i'm
partial arbiter over the life, the lib
critics and the property of your fel
low men. How much untold good is
done by an honest, wise aud upright
judge, which even those, to whom he
consecrates his time and thought
without the hope of reward, can uev
or appreciate
Aristotle said, speaking of the laws
of his own country, that jurispru
dence is the principle and most per
feet branch of ethics Another learn.
ed writer has said that the law is
that science which distinguishes the
criterions of right and wrong; which
teaches TO establish the one, and pre-
vent, punish or redress the other
which employs in its theory the mob
lest faculties of the soul. and excrts
in its practice the cardinal virtues
Of The heart; a science which is uni
yefsal in its use and extent, accom-
modated to each individual, yet
comprehending the whole eommun
ity.
Not unmindful Of the virtues and
excellencies of a jurist the mem bers
Of this bar have thought it meet that
at this time it would not be out OF
place to manifest in some tangible
way 'heir appreciation Of your emin
ent services as "A jurist,a scholar and
fellow citizen As slight token OF
the high esteem in which YOU are held
in these respects by the bar, permit
me on behalf Of the members here tt
present to you one Of the rare spec
linens Of natures art and handiwork
This gem which blazes with an eter
nal and unfading light we have deem
ed not unworthy to be presented or
this occasion as emblematical Of
those eternal and unfadiug princi
ples of right and justice that peryadc
all systems Of jurisprudence, ant
which you have go faithfully upheld
and adhered to under our own pecu
liar Institutions. That your life ma,
be spared and your health preserved
is the wish of all who have taken ;
part on this occasion. Wear this
gem as token of the esteem il
which you are held by the mem eri
of the Morgantown Bar.