The Washington bee., 1907-01-05
UNCLE JIM BURKE.
From the Post.

AAANlC ilAi p--fSg AtNS''@'F4tt -A@SANililN9
old barber, at the Ebbitt House Uncle
Jim belongs to an old type of the colored
race that seems to be passing off the
stage. He came here from the Tar Heel
State in 1866, and IN his day and gen
Grafton he has probably shaved the faces
and trimmed the locks of more promi-
nent men than any other tonsorial artist
IN the country. Mr. MeKinley's friend
sip Is one Of the cherished recollectlous.
OF his life
Mr. Mckinley" he said, always call
ed me Pat He said that Jim was not
Irish enough TO so with Burke, and so
/ was always Pat to him / didn't
mind. Mr. Mckinley was certainly a
6ne gentleman He could call me by
any name he pleased
Uncle Jim's special reason for rejoic-
ing yesterday was the fact that he had
just secured the appointment Of his son,
Clinton Cobb Burke, to the position of
messenger in the Supreme Court, by
Justice Moody. Every new justice of
the court has the appointment of a mes
senger. who performs the duties of a
body servant, or valet The positions
pay 500 month. with some perquisites,
and as they are for life, or good behav-
los, they are naturally much sought af-
ter. No civi! service examination IS re
quired Of the applicant Uncle Jim's
account Of his first interview with Judge
Moody is quaint and interesting.
The first thing that Judge Moody ask
ed him was to sign the pay roll. That
was easy. Then he said: Clinton, do
you drink"
| No, sill"
DO you realize that you are getting
place for life?"
4 thank you, sir
| \ few moments later he was running
razor over the Justices face, and the
appointment was confirmed. Each JUS
tice has a special messenger Of his own,
whose sole duty is to wait on his chief.
When a justice dies or retires, his mes
senger goes to another justice or is as
signed to a place around the court. They
are never discharged when once appoint
/ ed. except for serious cause. The same
rule applies 10 every er.ploye OF the
Supreme Court DiSmisSals there are
as rare as white blackbrds In the opin-
ION OF other Supreme Court messengers,
| Justice Moody's messenger has dropped
into something of a cinch. for the rea-
son that the new justice Is bachelor,
and his messengers duties will be light
| Messengers Of Judges who have families
are kept pretty busy
Uncle Jim has three children,al grown
up two sons and a. daughtel The
/ daughter j, a school teacher here at SIS
a month One son is employed in de
partDeut store at $50 a month. They
are all unmarried. Small wonder that
the Burke family is looking forward to
ix He says his children want him to
merry Christmas Uncle Jim IS sixty
retire and take life easy Il don't have
to work, he said, but ] like 1t and
reckon I will keep at it a, long as am
+ able To get around
The first place Uncle Jim worked in
after coming here was the old National
Hotel Justice Clifford Of Maine wa
one OF his regular daily patrons. Il re
member Judge Clifford well" he said
He would drop in my place every
Imorning for a shave, carrying his collar
and neckne in his hand, and would put
them on after | had fixed him up
Those must have been days Of Jeffer-
sonian simplicity indeed. Could any
one imagine member Of the Supreme
Court today strollng along the street
to a barbershop with collar and necktie
dangling from his hand:
Judge Clifford always talked very
freely with me. Uncle jun continued
He appointed a friend OF mine Vii
liam Bruce, messenger Bruce Is there
yet; not as messenger is too old for
that now-but he attends the door, and
his son is Justice Brewers messenger
] used to shave Judge Bradley at the
old Willard One day he told me that
he was looking for a good man to at
tend him and asked me if | knew Of
any one who would suit. | brought John
Craig. bellboy, in and introduced him
to the Judge He liked his looks and
engaged him on the spot. John holds
the job still, Justice Matthews appoint
cd Eugene Brooks, one Of the boys at
the Arlington, upon my Recommendation.
He Is still there. Somehow the judges
seemed to think that had luck IN pick
ing out good men to look after them.
I once asked Judge Clifford why he did
not retire and take life easy. as he had
reached the age when he could retire
on full pay"
jim he said, would not last
month if | should retire. I must stay