Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-06-17
The Demise of Judge T. n. Allen.

The following tribute to Judge AL
len was read at session of the Super
| ior Court June 9th, 1910, on the con
sideration of the resolutions pertain
ing to the death of that noted jurist
by Byron Millett.
| became acquainted with our de-
ceased brother about twenty years
ago. He was at that time in partner.
ship with Judge c. Fl. Aver, now de
ceased, practising law in Olympia
Afterwards our acquaintance. from ;
professional and personal standpoint
became quite intimate. During my
short term on the judicial bench il
Thurston County, he appeared as
counsel in some very important litiga
ton. 1t was always pleasure to lis
ten to bis oral and written argument is
on legal propositions involved. He
stated his points with clearness, force
aud logic. recollect On several oc.
casions he reduced his arguments to
writing and read from his manu-.
script. | believe every member of
this bar who was acquainted with
Judge Allen will agree with me that
every topic that he undertook to
elucidate with tongue or pen he dis
played signal ability, demonstrating
that justice had touched his soul in
marked degree; that logic pos.
sessed his mind expressed in eloquent
dictiOn. He aimed to deal with the
general principles of the law, had no
patience regarding bubbles on OBJ
scure points. which he appropriately
characterized as mouse tracks. "
The deceased was not only good
lawyer, but a ripe scholar; was a var
iOus and choice reader of history and
works on philosophy such as the pro-
auctions of GibbOn, Burke and Her
bert Spencer; frequently in the hear
ing of the writer, | have listened to
him while he sought to apply pass
ages from the writings of those dis
ting:ished authors to present eco
nomic and political conditions.
Burke's essay: "A Vindication of
Natural Society" affected the mind
of the Judge profoundly. He re-
GREETED very much the conflict be-
tween labor and capital, thought
many of our financiers were too
greedy in their mad rush to accumu-
late aggregations of surplus wealth
which they couldn't take with them
when they died. He believed every
body should enjoy the comforts Of
life. in which event there would be
greater happiness distributed among
the common people. On one Occa-
sion l heard him remark that when
he took his departure hence, he felt
If he didn't leave any property,
he wanted to leave a good name and
character in his wake as o heritage
to loved ones and friends. That he
succeeded in this regard goes without
saying. There is an Oriental pro-
verb which may be quoted in this
connection: When q man dies, his
fellow men will inquire concerning
bis property. but the angels will ask
about his deeds while on this Earth"
His family relations were most
pleasant. The best thing that may
be said about any man is, he was o
kind husband and a loving father.
The next best thing is that he was
an honest man and q good neighbor.
Our late brother and friend exceeded
by far the average individual in all
OF these qualities. which we shall
strive to bear in kindly remember,
ance. Being human he had his
faults, the memory Of which finds
no abiding place in our conscious.
ness. His late literary effort:
The Chronicles of Old Fields, "
though o book of small dimensions,
relating to life experiences in q Ken
lucky community, is true 70 nature,
written in q style easily understood.
almost persuading the reader that
he lived there while the incidents
narrated occurred. Unquestionably.
this little volume OF rare literaI y
merit will be considered as q classic
long after the most of us now in
this courtroom shall have passed TO
their reward. and tho hand which
has traced these lines on this occa-
sion shall have become mingled with
its kindred clay.
An occasion Of this kind is too
solemn; comes too near our homes
and bosoms to be regarded lightly or
viewed without concern. At the bed
side OF death. man regardless of his
station in life, returns to his individ-
duality; the affections OF loved ones
and kindred. the friendships of his fel-
lOw-men can not support him in that
hour. All that is mortal is dedicated
to decay and death. The human body
possessing the inherent elements OF
dissolution must sooner or later yield
to this inevitable law of being. This
is written on every living thing; death
reaps the forest of o thousand years
as surely Us the grass Of q season.
Lille. however. never dies; whilo ma
terlal forms are Continually underI
going changes. No person has ever
been able to tell when life originated
or when it will end. Italways Wis
and will ever be. 1t is the great
cause OF which mankind is the high.
est and nOblest expression.
The demise of kind husband, a
fond parent, q good man and an IS,
teemed citizen are sad subjects for ttb
living to contemplate. We hope Tor
compensation for such bereavement
In the future: Shall not the Judge OF
all the Earth do right?"