Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 24.pdf/598

 Caleb Cushing

553

His industry was "beyond that of any Choate answered, "I am pressed with man I ever knew," once declared Rufus business and can afford to let this case Choate. Members of the Massachu stand over. Then, I admit, I am setts Bar are familiar with many in afraid of Cushing's overwhelming knowl stances of his indomitable industry. edge of the law." Thus, on his appointment in 1852 to the He possessed a fine library, which Supreme Judicial Court of Massachu contained a most complete collection setts he read and analyzed in nineteen of books on international law, and em days the decisions then rendered and braced nearly all of the authoritative embracing fifty-one volumes of the works in French, Spanish, German and Massachusetts Reports. And it is said English. Another feature of this library that, after the argument of an intricate was the large number of books in the case before the full bench each justice Spanish language, while his collection was disturbed over the thought that of books in Chinese was probably the the chief justice might assign to him the largest in the United States. Among preparation of the opinion. The case the latter books were Kang Hi's dic was assigned to Cushing, who in two tionary in thirty-two volumes, the offi or three days handed in his opinion as a cial lexicon of the empire, compiled by matter of course, having worked unin a literary committee of twenty-seven of terruptedly for two or three days with the most illustrious savans of Pekin. out taking off his clothes. He was a great reader of romantic Chief Justice Shaw is reported to literature. But "his favorite relaxation," have remarked that when Cushing was says Ben Perley Poore, "was at the appointed to the bench, the judges did social board, and fortunate was the not know what to do with him, and host who was able to count Mr. Cush when he resigned, how to get along ing as his guest at a dinner party. His without him. inexhaustible magazine of incident and Charles Sumner once declared that anecdote concerning remarkable per he "never met, at home or abroad, one sons and events, his thorough acquaint so full of knowledge as Caleb Cushing." ance with the prominent questions of No subject seemed to be beyond his the day on each shore of the Atlantic range, and no question of law or states and of the Pacific, his keen wit and manship found him unprepared to sparkling epigrams never failed to fasci answer. In the field of international nate those who sat at the same table law Cushing had no equal. with him. Senator Sumner in the last Choate and Cushing were frequently years of his life became devotedly opposed to each other in court, and attached to Mr. Cushing and frequently each had a high regard for the abilities invited him to his dinner parties. The of the other. The story is told that a sonorous sentences of the senator were case in which they were opposed was illuminated by the brilliant comments continued because each was afraid of of his guest, which reminded the for the other. An acquaintance, under tunate hearers of the successive dis standing the situation, inquired why the charges of a Roman candle." case was not tried. Cushing replied, Cushing possessed the gift of clear "It is warm weather, I don't want to statement and a way of putting things hurry, and besides I am afraid of which held the attention of his audience. Choate's influence with the jury." In an argument before the Massachu