Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 12.pdf/588

 The Green VOL. XII.

No. u.

BOSTON.

NOVEMBER, 1900.

THE LATE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF ENGLAND. BY ONE WHO KNEW HIM. IT will be of melancholy interest to the members of the legal profession in the United States to know that the last public act of the late Lord Chief Justice was one of courtesy to the American Bar, whose mem bers he held in almost affectionate esteem. He was one of the originators of the dinner of the Bench and Bar of England to the American Bench and Bar, and although ab sent on circuit and unable to take an active part in the preliminary arrangements for it, he was in close touch with the committee. Finally upon the eve of the dinner he ad journed his work on circuit solely in order that he might come up to town to assist in the entertainment. He reached London in time but was too ill to be present, although no one who heard with regret the announcement of his absence through indisposition had the slightest idea of the gravity of his ailment. Instead of remaining in town for the dinner he proceeded to his country seat at Tadworth Court near the scene of the famous Derby race on Epsom Downs, where he has enter tained so many American guests. A week's respite from labor producing no improvement he was brought up to town and, after a consul tation by the most eminent specialists, an operation was decided upon. Although con sidered successful at first, the shock to his system was so great that he succumbed in a few hours. The manifestations of grief at his death were wide-spread and sincere and evidenced a feeling of personal loss to the entire community. Measured by almost any standard Lord Russell of Killowen was a great man. Even

a stranger meeting him for the first time and unaware of his identity could not fail to recog nize that he was in every way far removed from ordinary mortals. His stature, the massiveness of his head, his piercing eyes, the resoluteness of his mouth and the de termination in his carriage, never failed to impress one with the conviction that he pos sessed power and authority. The qualities which gained him success would brook no limitations to the success, and for years he was the unquestioned leader of the English Bar. But those who hold him highest in regard best like to remember him as the judge rather than as the advocate. On the bench he was in manner and appearance an ideal Lord Chief Justice. He was the embodiment, in face and pose and manner of wearing his ju dicial raiment, of dignity and even terrorinspiring sternness; while at the same time his features would relax into mildness and his musical and, at times, tender voice would in dicate that his justice could not fail of being tempered with a large measure of mercy. It was feared that he would carry to the Bench some of the defects of character for which he was conspicuous at the Bar, such, for instance, as his frequent irascibility and his occasional overbearing manner toward his opponents. But no judge ever more quickly forgot the advocate's manner or more speedily assumed the judicial pose. He was gentleness and kindness itself to the young and nervous barrister, and amazingly patient and helpful with a painstaking lawyer and an honest witness. But woe betide the per tinacious counsel trying to bolster up a bad