Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-19

| say of him dead They studied him to
measure him. They had to study him
to meet him We but repeat the trib-
| utes often given him in the fulness Of
his strength, tributes from lawyers to
| lawyer, foes III the court room, friends
outside.
In private life Mr.. Baker was as re-
| mt,rkablc as in his public activities
partly because of the continued opera
| ton OF the same faculties which won
| MIN success at the bar and on the
PLATFORM; and partly in that he re-
I, vcaled a character quite unknown and
unrcalized by the outside world The
nature of the man was essentially so
! cial-there was nothing of the recluse
about him. The Astounding vigor and
| mental alcrtncsS that made MIN
great lawyer and orator made him al
SO delightful talkcr and charming
| companion, whether in the ballroom,
at the dinner table, in his own library,
or out Of doors. He knew or had
known so many and 50 various people
had been 50 much q partaker Of his
| time-had acquired 50 wide and deep
a knowledge of humanity that ne
could never be nonpluscd nor at loss
| in whatever society he might find him
| self He met the highest and the wis
est on even terms; but ne was just as
much at ease with the casual way
farer encountered on the highway, or
the little child who smiled up at him
as he passed. He could bear even that
| hardest of hard tcStS-all day asSocia-
ton with the same persons in the same
! houSc--withcut a single failure of tact
or temper, always cheerful, always
| cheering, always kind and ready to
alHuse, or to be amused. He was a
man who would take as much trouble
to entertain another man. quite indif-
fcrent TO him, as he would take to
please Il beautiful girl-and beyond
this courtesy does not and cannot go.
He possessed both wit and humor,
he had the skill Of quick repartee
along with that of good natured but
kccnly effective sarcasm, and o
| peculiarly amusing narrative style,
fun of queer and unusual turns Of
thought and quaint orisinalpies Of
language. To hear some important
| law case described by him With this
light Righteousness Of touch, as if he
had found the trying Of it-and the
winning of it-but the merest
pastmc, was to have new light upon
the careless strength Of the strong.
| Mr.. Baker read little Of general
literature during his later years; but
his nina was so stocked with the re
suits of immense reading in his youth
stored IN and held always ready for
! use in that wonderful memoir. Of mis-
| which never forgot and never mis-
| To- -thJt
! prepared for any call upon him. He
| belonged to that small band Of Ameri-
| can college graduates for whom the
best Greek and Latin authors still re-
main a permanent influence and 2
| living force; nor can any enc who lis
tened to that plea for the classics
which he made at Rowdon las. June
soon forget either it or him. He was
! familiar, too, with the best achieve
mcnts of art of which he had been
for years an Intelligent and en-
thusiastic collector Of old glass and
china. oriental rugs and colonial
furniture. He loved music and had
heard much of the best Of it.
Having to a surprising extent the
gift of throwing business Off his mind
whenever he wished. he could 60 out
from a day Of the severest kind Of Of
fice-work. or from a fiercely- fought
case in court. to a game Of tennis. or
a ramble in the fields; either of which
he would enjoy with the singlehea
ed zest of child. This precious
power he owed very largely to MS
singular strength of mind and body.
once. after a seven-hour speech, de-
! livcrcd without notes. though full Of
fqcts ana figures. Re was asked If he
wcr. not tired. Yes. tired OF stand
ing in one place 50 long, ne an
severed, quite sincerely. He positive