The Washington times., 1903-03-23

| the cause of this Jove-like encourage
ment.
Justice Bradley was one of the oldest
! in years. but not in term Of service.
! Though small in physique. he was a giant
in mind and in energy. Attorney Gen
/ eIal Garland. who had every cause 10
/ criticise him closely. said Of him:
! 1t is doubtful II ever man sat in
that tribunal who knew more law and
more sorts OF law than he
He certainly did an enormous amount
! Of the solid work of the court. He was
] endowed by nature with a temper that
might fairly be called peppery. And l
/ do not think it was any more unjust TO
mention this fact that 10 say OF a man
short or tall that his eyesight is keen
or imperfect, or anything OF the kind. II
! expressed part OF the energy Of his ma
| ture. and he is entitled TO credit for the
| occasions when It blazed out in spite of
/ him.
He was one OF those men who seemed
/ fated not to be popular In spite OF merit
and hard work Some people still be-
/ lieve that he was appointed TO the bench
/ along with Judge Strong for the purpose
/ OF reversing the decision OF the court
/ upon the legal tender act. although their
! nominations were prepared and sent in
| before the first decision on that act was
announced.
/ "ATterward his service on the Elec-
| toral Commission was criticised. though
/ he accepted the unthankful Office very
much against his VIII,
The Only Survivor.
! Justice Harlan is now the only sur
vivOr of the court as then constituted.
Justice Woods became an invalid in 1886.
and passed away in April. 1887
Justice Matthews, or Stanley Mat
thews, as il seems more natural to call
him. was. perhaps. even then beginning
10 fail in health. He died two years
/ later, in March 1889
He is said TO have attributed the
stomach disorder that chiefly caused his
death to his irregularity about a mid
day repast caused by the hours the
court then observed. It met, as IL does
now, at noon exactly. but it then sat
until O'Clock. without a recess.
Justice Gray was then one OF the
end men OF the court. having been ap-
pointed in December 1881, by President
Arthur. from the supreme court bench
Of Massachusetts. It seems but yes
/ terday that his giant form. overtopping
even that of Justice Hardin. disap-
peared from among US. and the speeches
in praise OF his prodigious learning. his
dignity a judge, and his lifetime Of
public service are still in our ears
Mother nature, in a perverse mood,
gave him rather hIgh-pitched voice in
contrast with his great stature. and i'm
pTessive brow and face. His own men
tai quickness made him a little impa-
tient of any slowness in others, and his
temper verged on the petulant
This combination at times furnished
little quiet fun TO others. as when in
court an attorney was earnestly ex-
hibiting a map Of certain localities, and
explained that IL was "a bird 's-eye
view Mr.. Justice Gray remarked that
he hoped it was printed in the record,
for he was not a bird. and could not
see like a bird.
Justice Blatchford.
Justice Blatchford was the junior OF
all. having been appointed first to the
district court at New York, then 10 the
circuit court and then to the Supreme
Bench.
4 would not wish for a moment to
lose sight OF the real and, inherent dig
nifty OF the Supreme Court OF the United
states and Nits members That dignity
Is OF the true kind. which Is free from
all pomp or arrogance. The rules OF the
court. both for PROCEDURE and for its ex
ternal ceremonies, Impose the least re-
straint comparable with good order and
justice.
The prevailing tone through the court
and all the offices attached 70 IL is that
OF courtesy and kindness 10 the hum
blest and least known as much to the
highest and most noted. a true democ-
recy prevails there. fatal to humbugs.
but generous TO merit