Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-28

lzeuS would Sla0Iy peSIOW upou uiuls
and to whose generosity was due my
first appointment, but tonight know
him as the companion and chum Of
the old Law School days at Harvard.
I'VE are honored by the presence of
two predecessors In the chief Justice
ship. who after long and noted careers
upon the bench are not-only permit
ted but compelled to spend the harvest
time OF their lives In congenial pleas
ures coupled with equally congenial
labors.
Here too are these good old friends.
some Of them like ex- Senator john
son, companions of a life time; while
before me sit the members of the Ken
hebec Bar, the generous hosts Of the
evening, whom once 1 left, but. to
quote the words of Judge Peters. Il
hope have not left me-"
And then. not least Of all, to be per-
mitted to share the Joys Of this even
ing with another guest, my old school
mate in the fitting school at Water
viile, In those days of long ago, when
the past and the present had little for
us and life was all in the future.
To you all return my most appre-
ciative and heartfelt thanks. For
your kind words. all too fulsome, I
am deeply grateful as coming from
friendly lips. You are all my credit
ors for evermore. and this evening sets
up a milestone in my life.
The hour is late. and after the
memorable address of the evening Il
might be better for me only to say
| thank you and good night. But this
menu. so thoughtfully conceived, and
so tastefully executed, suggests three
periods in my professional life that
warrant perhaps a passing word.
First. the date November 9, 1880 with
my signature below puts me in a
reminiscent mood. 1t is taken from
which contains the rolf of attorneys
It marks the day when was admit
ted to the Kennebec Bar. remember
it well. Joseph Baker, then my tu-
tor, and later my partner, moved my
admission ARENAS Libbey was the
presiding Justice. The line Sworn
November 9. 1880" is the fine penman-
ship OF VIM. M. Stratton, the old
Clerk OF Court who was then nearing
the end Of his forty years term He
was native Of my old town and his
home on Green street is mine
The members of the examining COM
mittee, a clear case of misnomer, were
Lorenzo Clay, Gardiner c. Vose and
Edmund F. Webb. That date marks
the beginning of q years of continu-
Gus practice at the bar, with all the
trials and tribulations, the joys and
cisappointments Of the ordinary prac-
Using attorney. 1t is hard life. True
it has it's compensations, bet it none
the less is wearing and nerve racking.
] have tried not to forget that fact
while on the bench, and not to add to
the burden the trial lawyer is carry
ing, by anything that l might do or
say outside the necessities of the
cause.
Those days with clients seem far
away. and to go back to practice now
would be for me we'll nigh impossible.
| could not readjust myself so readily
as has our nimble ex-Chief Justice
Whitehouse. who argued a case before
the Law Court in Portland only last
week with all the zest and almost az
great responsiveness as he charged the
jury in my famous honey case 80
years ago in the Supreme Court. the
result Of which was that my male
plaintiff lost is pounds of honey In the
comb to young lady defendant who
possessed two virtues in addition TO
heT seeming truthfulness, exceeding
good looks and a residence in Nassal-
boro.
Then comes the second period sug-
Sested by the line Associate Justice.
March 81. 1907" That marked the be-
ginning of a new adventure, work still
with the bar but not in the bar.
l remember the dinner you gave me
~ years ago in recognition of my ap-
pointment. 1 recall the faces then
present and the voices then heard that
have since gone forever. my old part
ner, Orville d. Baker. his worthy ad-
versary in many a hard fought bat
tie, Herbert NJ. Heath, Simon S.
Brown. Lendall Titcomb, Joseph Will
hanson. Judge Hall. Judge Andrews.
A. c. Stilphen. Henry s. Webster, GUY
I. Hildreth and many others whom YOU
will readily recall.
These years on the bench have pass
ed quickly and pleasantly. They have
been happy years to me- l have loved
WV WIN II HdS peen cOnBenlal. The
responsibility, though great is of a diff
ferent character from that resting on
an attorney in the stress Of trial. It is
shared to some extent with others.
There is more of repose l have tried
to be myself, and hope have succeed.
ed. I have taken my Office but not my
self seriously
That period as associate justice is
closed. and now we enter upon the third
and last. Appointed Chief Justice June
IS. 1917" What Of this period? 1t is
all in the future. Let not him that
girdeth on his harness boast himself
as he that putteth 1t off,"
My friends. /. am more impressed
with the duties and responsibilities Of
the position than with it's honor. and
yet l look forward to the task with a
certain peculiar pleasure.
Among my letters of consratulation
from good friends was one from Chief
Justice Rugg Of Massachusetts,, which
contained this pregnant sentence. The
JOY OF the erdeavor in struggling with
vital and difficult problems is a call to
the best there Is in us Those words
from such source have fingered In
my mind ever since l frst read them
They shall be emblazoned upon my ju-
dicial coat of arms. That call shall be