The Washington times., 1904-04-03
By ALLEN KELLY.

N the large cities. the public officer
who comes to closest touch with
the affairs Of the common people
and most influences their lives and
fortunes is the Police Judge. Judges
OF higher courts have greater scope
of power and consequently appear to
be Of more importance. but any thought
full man who will take the trouble to
sit beside a New York city magistrate
through a busy day in the police court
cannot but come to the conclusion that
the best qualities of brain and heart
are more needed for dealing justly with
the seemingly petty cases growing out
OF the ferment Of human life IN the
streets than for the settlement of dis
putes over the conduct OF large affairs
and high finance" and the application
Of law to trials for the more serious
crime.
The justice on the bench Of the higher
court may devote days to the hearing of
a single cause, weigh the evidence and
ponder on the law for many more days,
and render decision at his leisure. The
police magistrate hears a hundred cases
in a day and must arrive at as many
determinations. weighing evidence as #
is presented, judging motives and ap-
plying his knowledge of human nature
while witnesses are speaking, and de-
Gliding instantly according TO the facts
and the law, and, above all, according
TO common sense.
Justice and Truth.
Places on the police court bench
to,ro 1T t,a.v, Too1red ,,ror, HEy the IA y
as high prizes of the profession, and
as q rule have not been sought by the
men best qualified % occupy them, but
have been distributed often as re-
wards 70 active politicians for party
services and used by them 20 render
further service 70 0ne or the other or
ganization.
Yet there are few places of public en-
ployment in which a good citizen can
be more useful to the community, more
helpful 70 his fellows, and when a
man having wealth sufficient TO insure
him a life Of leisure without toll gives
up his ease and social comfort, and de-
votes his time and talents earnestly 70
discharging the duties Of a city magis-
trate, he sets an example Of civic vir-
tue that should be an aspiration "a
others of his class and a shame to the
idle rich.
Such a man is City Magistrate Peter
T. Barlow, whose name appears in the
published lists Of New York million
aires. Judge Barlows fortune is con
siderably less than a million, but Il I,
large enough to relieve him Of anxiety
about ways and means of meeting the
butchers and grocers' bills, and mos'
men would ind it a temptation q
avoid work and live in idle comfort
A Wealthy Judge.
The Judge inherited his wealth from
his father, General Samuel Barlow. who
was one Of the great lawyers Of tn,
past generation and an eminent citizen
Of New York. Before the death OF hi;
father Mr.. Barlow practiced law for z
few years, and later he acquired furthei
legal experience in the settlement OF hli
fathers estate. which covered a period
Of FIVE years.
He had travelled much abroad and
seen the world, learned to speak FrencI
perfectly and Italian with some ease
and acquired wide knowledge Of man
kind and its ways. Casting about fol
some employment Of time in which hi
experience and attainments could b
turned to the use Of society. Mr.. Bar
low hit upon the idea Of doing some
thing practical in the line OF civic dutl
i.stead Of talking about reform ant
deploring the degeneracy OF politics.
Being a man in middle age. Mr. Bar
Iory had beconla foIera bIv well acauafnf
ed with his own capacities and talent
and had parted with his Illusions H.
did not announce his willingness 70 Il
Governor or President, but he went L