Evening star., 1922-06-30
HOLMES
GOES UNDER KNIFE
Operation Minor, But More
Serious One Is Planned
in Boston Hospital.
Special Dispa tch to The Star.

special DiEp4tch TO Inc StAf.
BOSTON, Mass. June 3o.-Justiee
Oliver Wendell Holmes of the United
States Supreme Court is in Brook
line hospital. where a minor operation
has been performed upon him pre-
paratory to a more serious one which
his physicians plan to perform upon
him as soon as conditions are entirely
favorable. The nature Of the atlment
of the justice Is withheld from the
public, but his physicians are su-
premely confident that unless unfore-
seen isomplications shall develop be
will be able to return to his aummsr
home. Beverly Farms, in week or
ten days. ..s.
The iilnesS of Justice Holmes came
AZ complete surprise to his many
friends here who have seen him on
the streets and at his favorite club
since the summer recess of the court
began. The first intimation they had
that all was not well with him was
4 week ago, when. at the Amherst
commencement, Justice Holmes was
unable to be present to receive in
person the honorary degree Of doctor
Of laws which Vice President Goo
lidre's alma mater had voted him.
In His Eishty-second Year.
When it became known today that
Justice Holmes was In the hospital
his friends manifested much uneasi-
ness about him. with the result that
his attending physicians issued a re-
assuring bulletin to allay their fears.
Justice Holmes Is in his eighty
second wear. His friends fully realize
that. because Of his advancing years.
he cannot long remain on the bench
in an active capacity. -..
Massachusetts, politicians have been
speculating for some time on his prob.
able successor. although 1t is realized
that President Harding may not de-
sire another Massachusetts man on
the Supreme Court bench. as Justice
Louis Brandeis, a Wilson appointee.
although born in Kentucky. was edu-
cated at Harvard and made his home
here since his graduation.
Appointed BY Roosevelt.
Justice Holmes was appointed by
President Roosevelt twenty years ago.
Judge Horace Gray, a Massachusetts,
man. had died, and the naming Of
Holmes was hailed as a concession
to the forward looking" progressives
Of the party. At that time President
Roosevelt was anxious to have the
Northern Securities Company. which
consolidated two competing trans
continental lines, declared illegal, and
Philander c. Knox, the Attorney Gen
eral, was fighting it in the courts.
when the decision was handed down
II was found that Justice Holmes
was lined up against the government,
FOR n time there was GOODNESS to-
ward him displayed by the White
House, according to gossip. which was
noticed by the President. who de-
nonnced the report and gave dinner
in Justice Holmes honor.
Private In Civil War.
Justice Holmes comes from a dis
tinxuished Puritan family. His fa-
ther. Oliver Wendell Holmes. was
leader in American literature. The
present Justice graduated from Har-
ward. enlisted rs private in Mas
saclfusetts regiment in the civil war,
was wounded three times and muster
ID ont m n lieutenant colonel. In his
story .Tha Hunt for MY Captain -
Oliver wendell Holmes tells Of the
search for his boy after he received
his frst wound. visiting camp and
hospital alike, only finally to give up
hone and then locate him on q hospital
train bound for Baltimore e
r,.sftcer white. the latter . ,Confed-
crate veteran; were the closest Of In
innate friends.
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