The evening Republican., 1902-08-30

of his impetuous nature to have
an important case decided against
him by either the court or jury.
But outwardly he bore it with man
liest courage and self-control. Un-
der such circumstances his respect
full and even gentle submission was
uniformly as noteworthy as it was
! commendable and endearing to
both the bench and bar. His death
is distinct loss to both, and by
/ each it would long be sincerely de-
plored.
His was unique personality
in both his professional and social
life. He was above all things a
social being. His robust frame,
verile nature, exuberant spirits and
vivid enjoyment Of life made him
the most attractive and delightful
Of comrades. As such, among young
and old, he was everywhere and'at
! all times, facile princeps.
Mature was in prodigal mood
when she gave him being sixty
years ago. For he was truly
child of nature-prodigal in his
! reduntant vitality, prodigal in his
pleasures, prodigal in his hospitali-
ty, and even in his generous bene-
factions, to church and club, to
young and old. He was thorough
ly emotional being, very sympa-
with itense attachments, full of
strong impulses and impatient of
restraint and metnodical methods.
Consequently he sometimes, nee
essarily combined big mistakes with
large virtues But thoss who knew
him best feel that the happiness he
gave and the good he strove to do
fully condoned his faults.
THAT was magnanimous and
nnobling maxim Of the great Latin
race: de mortllis, nil nisi bonum,'
say nothing but good of the dead,
for in Christian land there is no
place for personal prejudice or un-
generous criticism beside the bier of
the silent dead.
"To-day l stand here to say for
him what I know he would have
said for me had he survived me as l
had hoped he would.
- feel that the circle Of my true
and lifelong friends is rapidly mar
rowing and that the gray mist is
fast reaching hitherwarl from the
illimitable ocean OF futurity. My
old friend and your professional
brother has disappeared within 1t,
beyond the range Of human ken.
His life work is done. His useful !
ness on earth is ended. After life's
titful fever he sleeps we'll.
s. In the language Of the great and
wise royal preacher of old, let us
trust, as l believe we may. that
although his dust shall return to
the earth as it was his spirit shall
return unto God who gave it,"
II. $. ENGLAND's BRIEF REMARKS.
Howell S. England said in part:
SAlWays on an occasion of this !
kind, when we are gathered here to
pay our last tributes to the memory
of departed brother, do l expert
ence the inalequacy of words to de-
scribe the character of him we
mourn, or to give expression to our
feelings upon his decease. But
never before did l experience that
inadeluacy SO painfully as now.
''Mr. BirlWas man Of so unique
character shat We fail at the
thresholdto attempt to portray him,
His cordial greeting on the street,
at the bar of this court, or in the
privacy of his office, his poses, his
gestures, his fund of wit, his inimit-
able gift of repartee, his clothes
always 50 spotless and never the
same suit twice, his manner, his
personal magnetism m-all these will
remain with us in memory as long t.
as wo live, but how can we describe
them!
He was a student of men and
things more than of books. No
member of this bar had more
varied knowledge of the principles
Of machinery, the arts, trades and
occupations of men, nor of tho sub
tleties Of human nature itself, than
had Mr.. Bird. And it was this
knowledge, coupled with method
ical mind that was perfect master
of it, wherein lay his great success
as a lawyer. 1t will seem tamo !
term of court unenlivenel by a case
tried by Mr.. Bird.
ROBERT C. FRAnI's REMARKS.
Robert C. Fraim talked briefly
concerning the life of Mr.. Bird. He
had known him, he said, when he
was admitted to the bar and after :
wards became intimately acquaint.
ed with him. He spoke of Mr.. Bird q
as hard and earnest worker and 3
said he faithfully guarded the in !
terests of his clients. r
JUDGE SpRUANCE CONCLUDES. I
When the speakers had finished,
Judge Spruance addel faw words
in which he said the announcement
of Mr.. Bird S death had come as a t
blow to him. He had known Mr.. S
Bird, he said, for nearly 40 years, a
and had been thrown into close con- c
tact with him. He had looked upon
the deceased as an indefatigable Z
leader of the bar, and in conclusion z
said it was hard to realize that he z
was no more IL
At the conclusion of the remarks e
Of Judge Spruance the resolutions &
were adopted by rising vote, and (
the following committees were (
named to lay copies of them before g
the different courts:
Supreme Court-Benjamin Nields 8
and A. E. Sanborn.
Chancery Court--H H. Ward and :
B. Cooper. Z
Superior COurt--John Biggs and z