The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-03

with powerful chest and shoulders. giant
frame huge hands and feet rolling
numbering sort OF gait, and olive com
piexion, his face deeply corrugated with
wrinkles. scanned with powerful lines. his
head deep rather than wide. and COM
p4etely covered with luxuriant, black
curly hair. scarcely tinged with gray at
the day of his death; mouth large ana
bps thin and tremulous; his eyes large,
deep-set and black. with weird, far
away expression in quiet, but a terrible
burning intensity in excitement; a face
noticeable In a throng Of a thousand.
person arrayed in slouehing, tll-tittng gar
ments. including always several coats of
various and indesCrtbabie hues
This was the eminent and distinguish
cd lawyer. who. In 1919, was rendered the
position OF Judge of the supreme court OF
Massachusetts and declined Il. and who a
few years later was offered the position OF
associate justice of the supreme court of
the United States and refused the honor,
These honors can be better understood
when we know that judges in MassachG-
sets, then as now, were appointed for
life.
1t certainly begets more independence and
strength. although l am aware the sub
ieet has two sides TO H. The reputation
of the decisions Of the supreme court OF
Massachusetts, however in my opinion.
Is the best argument In favor OF the ap-
pointment OF Judges rather than their
election,
SIR Choate's study OF the law was ex-
traor,linary. There is 40 instance Of equal
devotion to be found Ia legal biography
He gave his whole mind 90 Il. reading
until o'clock In tho morning. Later his
studies became less exclusive. and be
sought n broader culture, bat oven in bis
Coke and Ilttleton. He daily studied oth-
ar languages and other systems Of safs-
prudence and government " was a ru.e
with him 20 read al least one page ~
some Law book daily. to keep the simple
elements Of law fresh la mind, The study
of law thus pursued leads 20 logic, 90
ethics, 60 metaphs sics-ln fact 20 the
whole range OF special sciences
''Mr Choates power nf memory hss
been described "a marvellous, he WAS
tine Latin. Crock. German and tfrnch
scholar: no was q master ~ the hu-hsN
speech, his vocabulary CONS tllh& 0' w
Words Hon Robert G. Winthrop said Mr.
Choate was All impetuosity, pouring eu'
torrents ~ exquisite Thought ana il'api
Language IN utter disregard % the Ien1th
81 hts sentences or tho vehcmonce Of b's
gesUCuiatlon
nero of she greatest Importance The mum
Der OF his jury trials u not known. WIS
greatest fee WAS slao. ana bis mrEest
yearly Income 81 on This would ffoc0lt}
be equal 10 SN0o0 to-day
Great Achievement of oratory.
in iSa6 Mr. Choa,e made HE celebrated
argument before zoo Nnted Statos sn-
prSme court Do tho Rhode tslana MAf42-
chusvtts boundary case appearing Nti.
panioi Webster for his associate counsel
After this speech he WAS known as the
sreetesf orator of Ma time. greater than
clay Calhoun or even Webster
'tNr Choate's most striking character
ssfic WAS his regard fnr thc fse DN#H 81
others He had a very modest estimate
OF his own powers ana ability Ac vas
fgce from cHotism. and iis cnarRetef MAS
as near pcrfctt as men nrr made. tttr
affections ana domestic life wore charm
lur his sense az honor Keen. his control
hi high moral principles complete nUl
constant his imagination brilliant and
shaSfe his logical power mastery BIS
memory tenacious and bis industry untir-
ing.
and 81 sharp discrimination, AMI his Dee
voffon 10 his professional cngAgcments
was exactlng Ia the extreme Vet he
fAnnd time for much classical rcattuS
9ts intellectual gifts were not only varied,
NM ,sroatEal He was scholar rs I'm
stinct II was said of him thgl z IL wsre
rot that he was "a great iaEYcr one
would suppose him an eminent theoioEiAn-
MIR ChoAte's nature cravcd friendship
IA was hdspttarla ami unNNnt tn the
uresence 81 friends. M mRu young or
tid gVer left his society 20 remember q
,,,,,fane word an indcltcate a4usiou or an
i,,ourc thought His tastes and recrea
lions were ~ the same c}eau character
lie loved agriculture ana outdoor sports.
hov ana man he Was SIMPLE ui&niy, &C.
SIN tSsi Mr. Choate was elected 90 the
I-uffe5 states senate 70 ul The pace made
vacant by Daniel Webster, who hAd hr
,-y,sst ne office OF secretary or state uu-
fsr President Harrison. Mr Chcate &C.
cepted his own appointment with reluc-
fanre. and resigned Ms soon as ne coui
a. SO consistently. Tie was ma HfStt1
modest. disliked public life, and l9sod u