Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-09-14

| had acquired over it almost complete
| control, and rarely was it shown ex-
cept in the presence Of what seemed
to him TO be wrong or oppression
With these characteristics there was
coupled mental ability of a high or
der and industry. He was not a gen.
ius in the sense that his mind was
| exceptionally brilliant or his CONVEX
sation scintillating. but he possessed
those more desirable qualities OF q
strong common sense, logical mental
processes, a strong sense of natural
justice and capacity and willingness
for hard labor. People looked in his
open and steadfast cOuntenance and.
knew that il was an honest countcs
nance; they saw his unTemitting in
dustry and they trusted him; they
recognized a character that sought
justice and right alone and they hon
Ored him with high and Responsible
Office. His words whether written or
spoken always rang true. He had
not the graces of the orator or the,
poet yet what he said or wrote was.
effective because it was sound and
true. He always proceeded directly
to the very heart of the subject in
hand; he used simple phrases. home
" but fOrcefui language and apueal-
ed rather to the sober Judgment than
TO sentiment or imagination. But he
was more than a mere lawyer Or
judge. Though welded to his profess
sion and engrossed with its many
cares he found time to take his fun
share in those matters of public in
terest which appeal to all good citf-
gems. Every movement for the bes-
terment of the community whether
philanthrOpic or educational in its
nature commanded his sympathy and
support. If not foremost in such
movements he was among the fore
most; he filled completely the ideal
OF the large-minded thoughtful citi-
zen ready at all times to put aside
for the time mere money-making and
place his intellect, his energy and his
purse at the service of the public.
He was called to the circuit bench
by the people of his circuit after an &C
tive practice among them of about
seventeen years. How admirably he
discharged the duties of that office is,
known to all. To the discharge Of
these duties he consecrated his talents
his industry and his judgment which
had matured and ripened by the ex-
.perience of years. No labor was too
great if thereby he might ascertain
what the voice of the law was. When
satisfied of that he knew no course but
TO administer it fairly, justly but mex
0rably without fear or favor. He
heard patiently. examined carefully.
.deiberated calmly and decided IN
fiinchingly. He had no favOrites to
reward, no foes 10 punish. He was
the servant Of the law and of the law
alone. He brought to this bench the
same fidelity, industry and ability
which had marked his whole previous
life. His written opinions, contained
in eighteen volumes of the reports,
constitute a more convincing and dur
able memorial to his ability as a law
yer and judge than any eulogy which
could be written. In them his sturdy
common sense, his vigorous English,
his inmate sense of justice and his
convincing logic appear at their best
They will rank well up with the opin-
ions of the states greatest jurists-
But there was another side TO his
character on which / also love to
dwell. mean that best portion of
good mans life, his little, nameless,
unremembered acts of kindness and of
love-" He was so human, so full of
sympathy, so unmindful of himself and
responsive to the appeals of the suf-
fering and afflicted. He was ever bear
ing burdens not his own. In these
acts there was no ostentation. Few
knew of them save the immediate par
ties, and none can ever know their
full number or extent But that they
were numerous and even of almost
daily occurrence know full well No
sad low-spOken word e'er pied with his
human heart unheard;' no weary toll
ing mortal came to him for sympathy
and encouragement and was turned
away without it. His heart was ever
open, his sympathy always ready.
And what a friend he was in the trU-
est sense, As a very close friend of
his recently expressed the idea to me
You could always tell him things"
What a world of comfort there is in
having such a friend. One whom you
know you can trust and to whom you
can cOnfids your Utmost thought and
your most perplexing difficulties with
the assurance of instant appreciation
and sympathy. This indeed is the SUI
preme test of friendship Such a
friend he was to many who now feel
that the pilgrimage of life is mere
weary than before. sr@zl
CT goes without saying that his fam
lily relations we're well-nigh ideal.
This is almost too sacred a subject to
be dwelt EpOn here. but it is only right
70 say that a more devoted and unself-
ish husband and father is rarely found
No personal sacrifice was too great If