Evening star., 1940-04-07

A. P. Photo.
cuss, would not promote the efficiency
of the court"
Justice Hughes has seen the makeup
of his court change radically. OF the
eight. justices he started with in 1880,
only three remain on the bench today
Justices McReynolds, Stone and Roberts.
Five New Deal appointees have filled
the vacancies.
But Justice Hughes has kept a firm
hand on the reins, and each newcomer
has been fitted into his place without
fuss or furry. .t
Through the trials of these 10 years,
Justice Hughes has kept the humor and
philosophy that carried him once
through the bitterest experience in
American politics-going to bed one
night as President-elect and waking next
morning defeated candidate.
When he left the courtroom. Mr..
Hughes left behind its austerity. He
enjoyed dinner parties, and he was the
most sought-after dinner guest in the
Capital. One hostess asked the Hugheses
to dinner year in advance-to be sure.
Told Dialect Tales.
Over the coffee, Justice Hughes told
stories in dialect-Irish, Scotch, German
and Jewish were his favorites-and
lightened serious discussion from his
great fund Of knowledge.
(His reading ranged from the latest
detective thriller to ponderous tones on
history; from the nonsense verse of Lewis
Carroll to the poets of France and Ger
many. He sought best of kind" in
music, art and literature)
From his box at the theater, his full
voiced laugh rang out freely-especially
at the mock-heroics of Gilbert and Sui
Ivan opera.
Out-of-town guests at the famous
Gridiron dinners were warmed at the
sight of the Hughes whiskers bobbing up
and down as he gave voice, with the
others, to the closing song-"Auld Lang
Syne."
Since his illness, all these pleasures
have been abandoned.
But Justice Hughes still is a favorite
character of the Capital. His beard
the only beard in high Office today-sets
him apart from the clean-shave states
men Of modern times.
1t is not the same beard he wore in
other days. It is rather close-cropped
circle OF white, covering mouth and chin.
His cheek bones are scraped bare.
Insurance Investigation.
Mr. Hughes was full-bearded man of
43 when he suddenly broke into national
prominence with the New York insur-
ance investigation. Out of his inquiry
came State insurance law which was
the model for other States
Mr.. Hughes was wearing the same
flerce-looking bush" when he became
Governor Of New York in 1907. As Gov
ernor he advocated the direct primary
election and other current reforms"
The beard was trimmed to something
approaching q Van Dyke while Mr..
Hughes sat on the Supreme Court as an
associate Justice from 1910 to 1916. Gle
was the only man ever to quit the court
and later be placed there again.)
When he campaigned for President In
1915 Mr.. Hughes wore beard that was
full, but neatly clipped. The whiskers
ran up to meet his sideburns; the mus
taches spread wide to curving points.
His beard was parted down the center
of the chin. This was the adornment
that Washington knew for years as ''the
Hughes beard"
The beard turned from gray to white
in the busy years that followed; when
Mr.. Hughes headed the wartime Draft
Appeals Board in New York, conducted
the inquiry which cleared Wilson's record
Of charges Of irregularity in aircraft pur-
chases and Kept up i law practice.
Mr.. Hughes, who had been sympathetic
to. the. Leaguesot Nations idea, directed
(see HUGHES, Pass O-s)