The times., 1899-01-12
His Wit and Wisdom.


Mr.. Choate's fame as an after-dinner
speaker was mainly won by the remarkable
addresses at the dinners of the New Eng
land Society, OF which he has often been
elected president those gatherings as he
calls them. '.of an unhappy company of
Pilgrims. who meet annually at DelmOn-
ico's TO drown the sorrows and sufferings
of their ancestors in the flowing bowl, and
to contemplate their own virtues IN the
mirror of history"
Perhaps one OF the best of his brief re-
marks was his toast to the fair sex. And
then, WOmen-the better half of the Yam
kee world-at whose tender summons even
the stern Pilgrims were ever ready to
spring TO arms, and without whose aid they
never could have achieved the historic title
of the Pilgrim Fathers. The Pilgrim moth
ers were more devoted martyrs than were
the Pilgrim Fathers. because they not only
had to bear the same harlships that the
Pilgrim Fathers suffered, but they had to
bear with the Pilgrim Fathers besides
One of his wittiest sayings was made over
private dinner table at which he and Mrs.
Choate were guests. Some one inquired OF
him who he would like to be ii he could
not be himself. He paused a few seconds.
as II thinking over the list OF the world
celebrities, and then his eye rested upon
his wife. II he answered, Il could not
be myself | should like to be Mrs. Choates
second husband"
This story came in reply to one of De-
pew shafts: A little girl being sent TO
spend the afternoon with friends. was told
to be seen and not heard. When the child
came back she said she had been verv
good-had said nothing. but listened to
everything. And now, dear mamma asked
this little chit, what is a Chauncey Depew
that everybody was talking about That
little girls mother" Mr. Choatc con-
cluded, looked at her darling and then
said deprecatingly. All, my dear little one.
you are not Old enough 10 understand those
things yet"
At the annual banquet of the American
Bar Association in Chicago a few years
ago. responding to the toast, Our Pro-
fessioE' Mr.. Choate said.
We love the law because among all he
learned professions it is the only one that
involves the study aCi the pursuit Of =,
stable and exact science.
Theology was once considered an i'm
mutahle science, but how it has changed
from age To age,
And then as to medicine how It's prac-
tice and its theories succeed each other in
rapid revolution. so that what were good
methods and healing doses and saving pre-
scriptions a generation ago are now con-
demned and all the past is adjudged to be
empirical
Meanwhile, common law. like nursing
fa,her makes void the part where the fault
Is ana preserves the rest as il has been
doing for centuries.
SO long rs the Supreme Court exists 10
II" attached and defended. that sheet an
chor OF our liberties and of our Govern
meLt. 50 long as the public credit and
Sood 'aIth II this great nation are in peril;
SO long rs the right of property. which lies
at Ike root OF ALI civil government is
secuted and the three inalenable rights to
itl' 70 liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
witch the Declaration of Independence
proclaimed and the Constitution has guar
arieei alike against the action OF Congress
and of the States. are in jeopardy. so Iong
viii great public service be demanded of
tie bar"
The juniors in Mr.. Choatc's Office were
one day discussing in his presence The right
mciho. uf obtaining success for the Young
man Ehn should come unheraided to New
lorr. The value OF letters of Introduction
formed the chief topic. There were divers
opinions; Mr.. Choatc was inclined TO throw
doubt on the value of letters of introduc-
ton. Tie said tnat when he came to New
York maHy years ago he brought with him
but Il single letter of Introduction. and he
thought he had made i certain amount Of
progress.
This sounded well ultn some one a. the
foot of tine class spoke up and said: But
just what was your letter Mr.. Choate""
Well, he said it was Il letter from Ru-
ius Chuate to William NJ. E!vartS
Genuine New EnsItnicr-
Mr. Choate was born at Salem. Mass.
january 2i 1882, the youngest Of ,he iour
sons OF Or. George ana Margaret Manr-
ing ,HodgeS> Choate. He was graduated
from Harvard College in 1852 and from
Harvard Law School in 1854. He was ad-
miited To the bar of MaSsachusst. in
lAj5. and Immediately afterward came to
New York City. and began to practice. In
1860 he became a member of the firm nf
Evarts. Southmayd & Choate. which IS
continued in the present firm of Eyarts.
Choate Il Beaman, with offices ut No >.
Wall Street.
He was married in 1861 to Caroline y.
Sterling. daughter Of Frederick Sterling,
ot Cleveland. o. They have had five chill
dren, three Of whom are living.