Evening journal., 1911-05-16
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Little Chat With David
Dudley Field
BY @HolIand."


Probably the foremost law reform
er of modern times was David Dudley
Field. bother Of the Field of Atlantic
cable fame and Of Justice Stephen J.
Field OF the United States Supreme
Court. For forty years of his long life
which began in 1905 and ended
eighty-nine years later--he devoted
the greater part OF his time to the re-
form of the law. Today his system Of
civil procedure is in force in most of
the States of the Union and is the
basis of the reformed procedure es-
tablished in England in 1873 His in
fluence In the law OF today Is as great
as the influence of his brother Cyrus
in the field of world communication
Mr.. Field was in his seventy-ninth
year and had Just returned from Eng
land, where he had been showered
with distinguished honors by reason
Of his work as a law reformer, when
had the pleasure OF an informal chat
with him.
The name Of his brother Cyrus came
up "One Of the LESSONS I have learned
in my long life" said the great law
reformer. "is that It requires more
ability to stick to a great thing than
to plan e. This was the kind of abil-
/ 'ity Cyrus showed to best advantage i'm
the case OF the Atlantic cable. Il was
this sort of ability, and his ability 10
Keep around him a group of men into
whom he instilled his own confidence
In the ultimate success Of the cable,
that really has brought him his fame.
His work in promoting and perfecting
the cable was Of secondary import
ance; yet the public looks upon him
largely as the promoter of the cable,
paying no attention to the greater side
of his achievements
"Mr Field" I said. "the ability you
have just attributed to your brother
may also very properly be affirmed OF
yourself, for Il is universally recog-
nized now that your codification Of
laws was stupendous undertaking
and that your persistence in the work
has been regarded by American law
years as one of the most astonishing OF
all professional achievements.
Mr.. Field smiled family. What you
have said reminds me of another les
son which ] have learned" he replied,
work take pleasure I'm It so that II
becomes really a mental recreation.
then IL is no longer work. That is the
feeling | have had since l first con-
templatea my code. and II is feel
ing that has helped to keep me in per-
feet health at my age"
Here was a man who was approach
ing eighty and yet was as active, mem
tally and physically. as a man Of forty.
Wont you tell me the whole story
of how you have been able to maintain
your health so perfectly. despite the
great burdens you have carried for
so many years?p asked.
"In the fist place was the reply,
81 think Il is essential that if old age
and accompanying mental and physi-
cal vigor are TO be attained there must
have been an inheritance Of a good con
stitution from parents and from an
cestors who have lived simply and
wisely And simply and wisely a man
should live himself For myself ! be-
J lieye that I have lived simply and
wisely--I use the dumbbells a little
every morning just enough TO set my
blood in circulation after the nights
sleep: am careful in the use of bev-
erages, though have never practicrd
total abstinence; i eat plentifully of
plain food, and have always found
that there are numerous very attrac-
tive and appetizing dishes which come
under that head.
Il have also kept my mind active and
now, as / look back on my life, ! am
convinced that constant mental and
physical occupation are absolutely es-
sential If one wishes to live to old age
and then TO be in good mental and
physical condition The idle life. my
friend, is rarely the long life. In my
own case ! find my mental faculties
are as acute today and as capable Of
sustaining prolonged labor as they
were 40 years ago, when I was in the
prime Of life, as Il is termed.
But, after all. the chief rule 10 be
followed if one wants TO live to green
old age and be a burden to no one. I
can express in fve words-Always
have a good conscience If a man has
that he Will not worry, and ! be-
lieve II TO be a true saying that worry
has killed more men than strong
drink These are the rules which have
made II possible for me to do a mans
work at seventy-nine, and a mans
work I confidently expect to do for a
number Of years to come"
For another decade Mr.. Field did a
mans work daily; and then he was
gathered to his fathers.
Copyright. 1911. by f. Edwards. All
rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tel
Elbow Zachary Taylor Made the Re