Evening star., 1939-04-11
Chief Justice Hughes, II, Marks
Day by Remaining at Work
Jurist Regoining f.
His Strength After "
Attack of Grippe
BY HAROLD B. ROGERS.

Steadily recovering from his re-
cent severe attack Of the grippe,
Charles Evans Hughes, Chief Justice
Of the United States, today observed
his 77th birthday principally by at
tempting to ignore it in work, as
usual.
The distinguished American, who
has served his country in many
capacities-twice on the Supreme
Court, once as Secretary Of State
and several times on important in
ternational missions-planned to
spend the day at his home, busy for
the most part with affairs of the
Supreme Court.
AS yet, since his illness, the Chief
Justice has not ventured out to pub
lie functions-even to the court
itself. 1t was said to be with regret
that he will be forced to remain
away from the funeral of Senator
James Hamilton Lewis tomorrow
afternoon in the Senate chamber.
Chief Justice Hughes. however, Is
gaining in strength and hopes to be
able to 60 to the Supreme Court
Building on Saturday for a confer
ence of the justices at noon. 1t will
be the first official conference he has
attended since his illness.
Makes Steady Recovery.
The Chief Justice also plans to
preside at the next session of the
Supreme Court when it reconvenes
after recess next Monday.
Although he was quite i'll from
the grippe which struck him not
long after his appearance in Con-
gress March 4 for the 150th ami
versary of Congress, he has made
steady recovery, and has told
friends he feels he is now rapidly
swinging back into form. His eyes
are bright, and he appears to be his
energetic self again.
AS has been his custom, the Chief
Justice pays little attention to his
birthdays, and usually spends most
of them at work. He finds the Sc
clusion of his chambers at home
more conducive to concentration on
the problems of the court than the
new Supreme Court. where thou
sands of visitors flock, especially at
this time of the year.
Friends and neighbors OF the
Chief Justice are hoping that with
the return of his strength and the
coming of real spring weather he
will resume his custom of walking.
The trim, erect figure of the Chief
Justice, striding along with vigor
and apparent relish for the exercise,
has been a familiar sight, especially
in the vicinity of his home, and
along Connecticut avenue. In this
particular he is like his predecessor,
William Howard Taft, who walked
long distances in his trips between
home and the Supreme Court.
On Bench Is Years.
AS the Chief Justice passes his
77th birthday today he has been for
about is years on the Supreme
Bench. His first service on that high
tribunal was from October 10, 1910,
to June 10. 1916. when he resigned
to accept the Republican nomina-
ton to run for President against
Woodrow Wilson. His second term
on the Supreme Bench began Feb
ruary "a, 1880.
Many changes have taken place in
the personnel of the tribunal since
Justice Hughes first sat with 1t In
1910. The passing years also have
seen changes take place in the man
who continues as Chief Justice at
the age of II. The slow frosting of
time has touched both his trim beard
and his hair, which now is not so
abundant as 1t once was, above his
high, sbroad forehead. Time has
softened a bit the austerity which
marked him in earlier life, but there