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 The Green Bag Volume XXIV

December, 1912

Number 12

Caleb Gushing1 BY ANSON M. LYMAN OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAR

THE oft-quoted remark that "a physique, and a vigorous constitution. Exter lawyer's fame is writ in water" has nally, nature had stamped him as a man of dis tinguished character. Such was the versatility but a limited application to Caleb Cush of his talents that he could master with equal ing, the American statesman and jurist. facility any subject. Had he so determined, Cushing's extended public services and he could have gone down to posterity one of the the prominent part taken by him as greatest scientists or the greatest philologists senior counsel for the United States at of the age, as he was a great jurist and states His capacity and equally great memory, the Geneva Arbitration have left some man. his unwearied industry, his scorn of delight and impression on the popular mind, even love of laborious days enabled him to conquer at this late day. all knowledge. I know of no subject of intel As a lawyer, statesman and linguist lectual contemplation that lay outside the range Cushing was one of the most remarkable of his meditation and study. Like Bacon, he all knowledge for his province. His name men of any age; so remarkable that it took was already a popular synonym for extensive is difficult to give a truthful description culture and vast erudition when I first heard it of the man and his unusual talents with mentioned. out an almost offensive use of superlatives. An iron constitution, a habit of unre He was one of the few public men [said Hon. mitting labor, and an extraordinary William E. Chandler in a discourse delivered memory account for his wonderful gifts. in 1880 before the Grafton and " Coos County Gushing was of striking appearance. Bar Association] whose merits have been under In person he was tall, handsome and estimated rather than over-estimated, and it will be many years before this country will see the athletic; of ruddy complexion, bright, equal of the learned, genial, marvelous Cush- dark eyes and an alert vigorous manner ing. which impressed all who met him. When In addressing the Massachusetts His the old Suffolk County Courthouse was torical Society in January, 1879, the late taken down, a fine marble bust, believed Charles W. Tuttle, Esq., who was in the to be of Cushing, was found and is now same law office with Cushing, paid him in the Social Law Library in Boston. this tribute: — He who now attempts correctly to portray the attributes and qualities of Mr. Cushing was endowed with extraordinary intellectual powers, with an uncommonly fine Caleb Cushing is impressed by the lack 1 An address delivered before the Brookline of authentic information upon the subject. No biography of his life has been (Mass.) Thursday Club. March 28, 1912.