The Washington times., 1903-03-23
"REMINISCENCES OF
THE SUPREME COURT
Personal Peculiares, Anecdotes and Narratives Culed
From Recollections of Former Attache of Tribunal.

I 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
eTal Garland. who had every cause to
/ criticise him closely. said Of him:
/ II 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 temper that
might fairly be called peppery. And l
do not think it was any more unjust to
mention this fact that TO say of man
short or tall that his eyesight is keen
or imperfect, or anything OF the kind. It
| expressed part OF the energy Of his na-
/ 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.
"Afterward his service on the Elec-
/ toraI 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 it seems more natural to call
him, was. perhaps. even then beginning
to fail in health. He died two years
/ later, in March, 1889.
He is said 20 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. II met, as it does
now, at noon exactly, but it then sat
until 4 O'Clock, without a recess.
Justice Gray was then one OF the
end men Of the court, having been ap-
( pointed in December. 1891. by President
Arthur. from the supreme court bench
Of Massachusetts. 1t 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 as a judge, and his lifetime OF
public service are stiH IN our ears.
Mother nature, IN a perverse mood,
gave him a rather high pitched voice in
contrast with his great stature. and i'm
pressive 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
/ a little quiet fun to others. as when in
court an attorney was earnestly ex-
hibiting a map Of certain localities. and
/ explained that II was a bird 's-eye
view Mr.. Justice Cray remarked that
/ he hoped II was printed in the record.
/ for he was not q bird. and could not
! see like a bird.
Justice Blatchford.
! Justice Blatchford was the junior OF
ali. having been appointed first TO the
/ district court at New York. then 10 the
circuit court and then TO the Supreme
Bench.
i would not wish for a moment to
! lose sight Of the real and inherent dig
nifty OF the Supreme Court OF the United
] States andNits members. That dignity
/ Is OF the true kind. which Is free from
/ all pomD 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 II Is that
/ Of courtesy and kindness, 70 the hum
/ blest and least known as much 10 the
| highest and most noted. y true democ-
/ recy prevails there, fatal to humbugs,
! but generous 10 merit"