Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 08.pdf/98

 The Supreme Court of Maine. administration of justice between man and man, in protecting innocence, detecting guilt, no reflect ing mind can question; and certain I am, no ex perienced judge can doubt." This address Judge Kent closed with a courteous welcome to his successor, Judge Peters : — "And now, sir, I turn to you as my designated successor on the bench. I cheerfully surrender the seat to you, knowing so well, from our long acquaintance, that its duties will be ably, honestly and impartially performed. I welcome you to its labors, its trials, its rewards. "I commend you most heartily and earnestly to the confidence and respect of your associates, to the Bar, and to the people. And may it be your good fortune, as it has been mine, to enjoy the confidence, the forbearance and the support of your brethren of the Bar, in your constant labors, and efforts to do justice, according to law. "And after many years, may your exit be ac companied by as many consoling, cheering and gratifying surroundings as mine is. 1 could ask no more than this for you. I go willingly, for I had much rather depart when some at least are willing that I should stay, than stay till all are more than willing I should depart. . . . "And brethren, I have detained you too long, but I could not do justice to my feelings, if I had said less. We here part, officially, but 1 trust we may hereafter continue ever friends, as brethren and associates, at the bar, and in social life. I honor and I love our profession and its members. I ask no higher honor than to be numbered among its true and faithful servants. I now leave the bench and simply ask you to receive me again into your ranks as an honorary, if not an active mem ber." Judge Kent was possessed of a splendid physique and attractive countenance, and an agreeable manner. He had a clear blue eye, which was undimmed by age; consequently his sight never required artificial aid. He hated drudgery of all kinds, and was disposed to keep all disagrecabilities at a distance. This latter quality is humorously brought out in a personal letter to Chief-Justice Appleton in 1873, in which he writes : — "A judge who will go into court at half-past

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eight in the morning of the shortest days of the year, when the sun is just above the horizon, ought to be condemned to hold extra terms under sen tence and be thankful if he escapes impeachment on a summary address. . . It may be sport to you, but it is little better than death to the brethren who love a morning nap and a deliberate breakfast. Do you breakfast by candle-light? The single hour at noon may be endured much better, but that is against ' all reasonable rules and regulations ' al lowed by law. I always think, when I hear of such excessive zeal for unmitigated and unrelieved work, of poor Judge Allen, as I saw him almost running down Broadway whilst the court- bell was ringing and the sun just peeping over the hills and I trying to get my big cloak over my shoulders, having abandoned a half-eaten breakfast. "I suppose you held Saturday afternoons and were sadly annoyed that the statute forbids hold ing court Sunday. Don't you think you might hold court between meetings, call it the spiritual court, and devote it to divorces and like spiritual matters?" During the year that he spent in Europe with his wife and son, he wrote often to Judges Appleton and Cutting, to whom he was so fondly attached by the cords of unbroken friendship. These letters were circulated among friends, who greatly enjoyed their mirth and humor as well as their wit and wisdom. I remember how he described his journey through Italy, and after spending a day at Pisa remarked that he " didn't think much of the Leaning Tower; but it did re mind him of Judge Appleton's charges to the jury in liquor cases." A lady friend tells me this characteristic incident that happened to him one day when he started out in Florence one morning to visit a picture gallery in which his wife was greatly interested. In her enthusiasm she entered the palace, leading the way to the art gallery, where she soon became deeply absorbed in her study of the great masters, and supposing the Judge was all the while at her side. Turning to ask him to join her in contemplating one of the most beautiful works, she discovered he was not in the room. Retracing her steps she found him sitting on