Evening star., 1935-03-24
Htoy1cSectiou
ofCHyBrongM
to Attenti0n
In the Recent
Death ofBe-
l0ved WendeU
lines Of
High Court.
Traditions of
the OMRiggs
MQHSiOn.-
Bv John Clagetf Proctor.

STREET NORTHWEST. always a
more or less important thorough
fare, has recently attracted special
attention on account of the death
of Oliver Wendell Holmes, for
many years an associate justice OF
the United States Supreme Court, who
lived for a long while at No. 1720, in
a once staid old residential neighbor-
hood, now becoming an entirely busi-
ness block
The great age to which Justice
Holmes had reached, the many years
he had served on the Supreme Court
bench, his conspicuous military record.
gained through his service in the Civil
lovable character, altogether. made
him an outstanding figure of national
prominence-but a number of years
ago the Supreme Court lost one of its
members. then living on I street. who
outranked Justice Holmes so far as
that body was concerned. This was
the then Chief Justice, Morrison Re
mick Waite, who died at his home,
1415 I street, on March %, 1888.
Unlike the final days of Justice
Holmes, the death of Chief Justice
Waite was entirely unexpected. In
deed, he was more than 21 years
younger than the former. and until
within week Of his death appeared
to be in robust health. He was first
attacked with a chill on Saturday
morning, March IT, but refused to let
his illness be known outside the home.
He had attended, the evening before.
. reception given by Mrs. Hearst, wife
Of Senator Hearst, at her home and
was one Of the guests at the table.
When the chill came on he called
in the family physician, who hap
pened to be one of the earliest woman
medical practitioners in Washington
DR.. Caroline B. Winslow, whose office
was for many years at l Grant place.
and who, as follower Of Hahnemann
founder of homeopathic medicine, had
gained reputation in the city.
Several days after the Chief Justice
was stricken he determined to go to
the Capitol-against the judgment of
DR.. Winslow-and to read the opinion
Of the court in certain telephone
case, but when he arrived there he
found himself unable to do so, and
instead the opinion was delivered by
Justice Blatchford. Undoubtedly this
effort on his part did not improve his
condition, but rather tended to make
matters even worse, for after return
Ing home, which he did Immediately,
he never left there again alive.
Pneumonia soon delevoped-as was
the case with Justice Holmes-and on
Friday. March 23. he died without a
struggle, which Is unusual with this
disease, where there is so generally a
painful choking from insufficient air
in the lungs. The immediate cause of
death was given as heart failure. His
last words-uttered to his nurse. who
inquired as to how he felt-were, II
feel better"
THE death Of Chief Justice Waite
was a shock to Washington and
to the Nation. The White House was
soon draped In mourning, the four
great columns, in front of the portico,
being nearly covered with black, and
the windows and copings gracefully
draped
On Wednesday, March 20, funeral
services were held in the hall of the
House of Representatives, with the
Supreme Court, the Senate, members
Of the House Of Representatives and
high Government oficials in attend
ance. Mrs. Cleveland and the ladies
of the cabinet attended in mourning
costume. The body was taken to
Toledo, Ohio, for burial. Prof.
Widows tolled the Metropolitan
Church bells while the services were
being conducted and while the body
was being conveyed to the railroad
depot, and he also played dirges at
intervals.
Besides Mrs. Waite-who was in the
West on a pleasure trip at the time
her husband passed away-the Chief
Justice left to mourn his loss two
sons, C. C. Waite, then president Of
the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton
Railroad Co.. and Edward T. Waite.
lawyer, Of Toledo, and an only daugh-
ter, Miss Mary Waite.
Chief Justice Waite was far from
being q rich man, and when he
bought the I street lot, and decided
to build there, he found 1t necessary
to borrow the money to do so.
Originally three-story and basement
bay-window brick house, its front has
been changed for business purposes,
though in other respects it is about
as it was when the Chief Justice died
within its walls.
How strangely things work out, for
shortly, after the death of Chief Jus
tiee Waite. President Pre-. s. Cleveland nc sen sent