Evening journal., 1913-11-29
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
James c. Carter and Samuel
]. TiIden
by Holland.

The late James c. Carter was es-
teemed for the last thirty years of his
life as the real intellectual leader,
certainly of the bar OF New York
State, and probably OF the bar OF the
United States. He was man Of i'm.
pressive personality. Not of large
figure, he was, nevertheless, well
knit and finely proportioned. His
countenance told perfectly the story
of his life of intense application TO
his profession ana his capacity for
profound study.
When the late Chief Justice Cole
ridge, who was the highest judicial
officer of Great Britain, visited the
United States in 1888, he confessed
himself to have been especially inn
pressed with the personality and the
perfect suggestion Of intellectual
and moral strength, which that per-
sonality revealed of James G. Carter
Mr.. Carter, in some respects, re-
sembled the typical English states
man or lawyer of great reputation.
The cut OF his whiskers was similar
TO that which had been characteristic
cally adopted by the pre-eminently
great men Of England for more than.
a generation.
II was my good fortune to have had
several very interesting conversa-
tions with Mr.. Carter in the last
years Of his life. I found him one af-
ternoon In the library of the Union
League club, New York City, poring
over what apparently was "A book not
often taken from the shelves Of the
library. He greeted me cordially and
moti0ned to vacant chair near him.
Il have been looking up some Of
the published addresses OF Governor
Tilden," Mr.. Carter said. 'ln read
ing them ! found myself unmindful
Of the purpose I had in mind when I
opened to them"
Mr.. Carter looked at me as though
inviting me to ask. him what it was
that caused him TO be diverted from
his first purpose. Instead of doing
that | said to him that a distinguish
ed professor Of Columbia University
had within a few days told. me that
he regarded the article written by
James G. Carter. upon Governor ALL
den, and published not long after
Tilden's death as not only a MASTER
piece or biographical writing, but al
so the finest exemplification of tha
mastery of the English language, and
the revelation of the wonderful pow
ers Of that language in the hands OF
a master to express with clarity any
thought however subtle.
Mr.. Carter turned to me quickly |
and said who was the professor
that paid me that compliment"
1T was DR.. John Bassett Moore, |
who, as you know. was twice assist
ant secretary of state, and probably
the greatest master Of the archives
Of the state department and of the
history Of American diplomacy and
arbitration the United States has ever
had"
Mr.. Moore pays me a great COM
pliment," Mr.. Carter said, "but /
think he may have forgotten Gov
ernor Tilden's writings. 1t was ex-
actly this to which I referred when
told you that my thoughts had been
deverted from my first purpose as
/ was reading one OF Governor Til
den's papers. He was the greatest
master of pure dignified English.
whom 7 have ever known among
Americans. OF course. speak OF
him now as writer upon economic,
poilJlcal or statesmansbi subjects.
If | could make my voice heard by all
the students in our universities and
law schools. I would say to them,
read and study the writings of Sam
uel J. Tilden. if you wish to ac-
quire perfect English style for the
expression OF thoughts and views as
sociated with the legal profession,
with economic or financial subjects
and with the true art of science Of
the highest statesmenship"
Copyright 1918. by Z. J. Edwards.
All rights reserved)