"Nor need we travel abroad for examples and illustrations of forensic2 oratory3 in its highest perfection; for in the sublime4 passion of Patrick Henry, in the gorgeous vehemence5 of Choate, in the brilliant and abounding6 fancy of Prentiss, and in the majestic7 simplicity8 of Webster, we find at home every beauty and every power of eloquence9 displayed with an effect not inferior to the achievements of the mighty10 masters of antiquity11."
Diligently12 as he studied his profession, he found time for lighter13, but not perhaps really more congenial, occupations. From time to time he addressed college societies on literary themes. He wrote for the North American Review, the Forum14, and the "Encyclop?dia Britannica." Like his public addresses, his writing was said to display ripe scholarship 448and a clear, polished style. The highest note was never too high for him!
He would have had to be "made all over again," had he felt no interest in politics. He was born, as he often declared, "a Presbyterian and a Democrat," and he never faltered15 in allegiance to either. "Oh, God guide us aright," prayed a member of the body that framed the Westminster Catechism, "for thou knowest we are very determined16." Having set out in one direction, the worthy17 brother doubted the power of the Almighty18 himself to alter his course!
Although my Husband refrained from political talk or discussion, he was glad to be sent to the convention that nominated Mr. Tilden. But probably his first conspicuous19 appearance on the political theatre was the Gubernatorial Convention at Syracuse, of which he drew the platform, and which resulted in the candidacy of Mr. Cleveland. That platform was acknowledged to have aided materially in the election of Mr. Cleveland. Its author's address in presenting it was much applauded.
Just as I closed my Jacksonville work, my general argued and won his great Sugar Trust case. "Had he done nothing else," said one whose word means much, "he could point to this case as an enduring monument." His rapid rise to fame at the bar is well known. "His legal victories would make a long list," says a contemporary writer, "but he never shrank from a suit because it was unpopular or because the legal odds20 were many against its success, however just it might be. His deep knowledge of law, his readiness of resource, his care in 449preparing his case, his unfailing good humor, his pluck, ardor21, and clearness in pleading, have made him influential22 and successful in the courts." Beginning with the Tilton-Beecher suit, he was counsel in the Morey Letter case and the Holland murder trial. He was also engaged in the suits against Governor Sprague in Rhode Island, and the Ames impeachment23 proceedings24 in Mississippi. He was the first to win a suit against the Elevated Railroad Company for damages to adjoining property. He was also counsel in the Hoyt will case, the Chicago anarchist25 trials, and now in the Sugar Trust suit, in which he was successful in the New York City courts as well as in the Court of Appeals. At the time of his direst distress26 he refused a suit against the good Peter Cooper.
It was in 1889 that my husband suggested and conducted the suit against the Sugar Trust, the first litigation in any court or any state against combinations in restraint of trade; and as he was successful against powerful opposition27, he acquired a prestige which was the immediate28 occasion of his appointment to the bench.
On October 9, 1890, Mr. John Russell Young gave a dinner in his honor at the Astor House—a dinner notable for the number of distinguished29 guests. Among them, Hon. Grover Cleveland, General Sherman, General Sickles30, Henry George, Daniel Dougherty, Daniel Lamont, W. J. Florence, Mark Twain, John B. Haskin, Joseph Jefferson, Thomas Nast, Judge Brady, Judge Joseph F. Daly, Murat Halsted, Senator Hearst,—was ever such a 450company? Laying his hand on my husband's shoulder, General Sherman said: "We would have done all this for him long ago, but he had to be such a rebel!"
He had been appointed to fill the unexpired term of a retiring judge. The next year he came before the people for election, and was chosen by a great majority of many thousand votes to be judge of the Court of Pleas, and soon afterwards became judge of the Supreme31 Court of New York.
He was welcomed to the bench by every possible expression of cordial good-will, confidence, admiration32. Again there was no dissenting33 voice. At a celebration, not long after, of Grant's birthday, he was one of those invited to speak, and was thus introduced by General Horace Porter: "Gentlemen, we have a distinguished general here to-night who fought with us in the war—but not on the same side. It has been said that it is astounding34 how you like a man after you fight him! That is the reason we have him here to-night to give him a warm reception. He always gave us a warm reception. He used to take us, and provide for us, and was willing to keep us out of harm's way while hostilities35 lasted—unless sooner exchanged. He was always in the front, and his further appearance in the front to-night is a reflection upon the accuracy of our marksmanship. Not knowing how to punish him there, we brought him up to New York, and sentenced him to fourteen years' hard labor36 on the bench."
He brought to the bench the habits of self-denial 451and unremitting study he had practised for twenty years. During all that time, and after, nobody ever saw him at a place of amusement, theatre, ball, or opera, and very rarely at a dinner-party. He knew no part of New York except the streets he traversed to and from his office or court room. His brief summer holidays were spent at the White Sulphur Springs in Virginia, where his studies continued. In 1895 he there addressed the Virginia Bar Association on the influence of Virginia in the formation of the Federal Constitution, and I venture to say that whoever reads it in its printed form will find interesting historical facts not generally known. In accordance with my plan to permit his contemporaries to tell the story of his public life, I copy one testimonial from a Richmond paper: "Judge Pryor made a splendid address. It was an ornate, learned, and eminently37 instructive production, and attested38 the jealous devotion of a distinguished son of Virginia for the old commonwealth39, and his careful study of her political history. It did honor to the gentleman who made the address and to the profession of which he is a shining light."
Whatever he wrote was always read aloud and copied at home, until my daughter Gordon left us, even the legal arguments so dimly understood by her. Apart from the technical difficulties, she could always receive some impression from his argument, and the impression upon her singularly clear, unprejudiced mind was what he wished to know. Our own turn in reading aloud gave him a delicious opportunity to correct our pronunciation. His patience 452could never brook40 a mispronounced word—and alas41, after Gordon married I found myself too old that I might learn. However, he patiently continues to struggle with me.
Once, at the White Sulphur Springs, a beautiful Virginia girl was under my care. My general was absorbed,—it was the summer he made his speech,—and did not render the homage42 to which the pair of blue eyes was accustomed. "I don't think the judge likes me," she complained; "he never has a word to say to me. He looks as if he's always thinking about something else."
"Lizzie," I suggested, "you must mispronounce a word or two, and we'll see what effect that will have." We put our heads together and made out a list for her to commit to memory. At dinner she fastened her eye upon our victim, and commenced,—offering a flower,—" It's not very pretty, but the perfume′,—" "I beg your pardon, Miss—, per′fume, accent on first syllable43!" he exclaimed. "Oh, you're so kind, Judge! This just il′lustrates—" "Illus′trate, my dear young lady!—accent on second syllable, but pray go on." "I've never had anybody to tell me any of these things," she moaned. "If you only would—" "With pleasure! A beautiful young lady should be perfect in speech, as in all things." The little minx played her part to perfection. Presently, overcome with the ludicrous situation, she excused herself, and my dear innocent remarked, as his admiring eyes followed her, "An uncommonly44 sensible girl that!"
I enjoyed a bit of newspaper gossip about this 453peculiarity of my dear general. A physician was testifying before him in a malpractice case, and repeatedly used the word "pare′sis," accenting the second syllable. The judge exhibited extreme restlessness, and finally ventured, "Excuse me—the word you mean is possibly par′esis?" As the witness proceeded, the offence was repeated and again corrected. "Now, your Honor," said the offender45, "I concede all wisdom to the bench in legal matters, but I am a physician, and in the profession the word is pare′sis." "It is par′esis in my court," was the decision promptly46 handed down, with an emphasis that forbade appeal.
I am sorry I cannot record his services to his country and his profession during the seven years before he was overtaken by the age-limit prescribed by New York law—his championship of maligned47 women, his decision that divorce cases should not be tried secretly but must be held in open court—now become a law—his restriction48 of the right of naturalization to at least knowledge of the English language. I cannot go into these learned subjects as I trust some one of the profession will do some day. I only record that my dear general, as was conceded by every one, fulfilled the sacred trust—"he was a father to the poor, and the cause that he knew not he searched out."
This public recognition of his ability and worth, with its opportunity for larger usefulness, came at last as the crown of his long and heroic struggle. The war had left him with nothing but a ragged49 uniform, 454his sword, a wife, and seven children,—his health, his occupation, his place in the world, gone; his friends and comrades slain50 in battle; his Southern home impoverished51 and desolate52. He had no profession, no rights as a citizen, no ability to hold office. That he conquered the fate which threatened to destroy him,—and conquered it through the appreciation53 awarded by his sometime enemies,—is a striking illustration of the possibilities afforded by our country; where not only can the impoverished refugee from other lands find fortune and happiness, but where her own sons, prostrate54 and ruined after a dreadful fratricidal strife55, can bind56 their wounds, take up their lives again, and finally win reward for their labors57.
The End
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1
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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forensic
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| adj.法庭的，雄辩的 | |
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oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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abounding
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| adj.丰富的，大量的v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的现在分词 ) | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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antiquity
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| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
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diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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forum
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| n.论坛，讨论会 | |
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faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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impeachment
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| n.弹劾；控告；怀疑 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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anarchist
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| n.无政府主义者 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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sickles
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| n.镰刀( sickle的名词复数 ) | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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dissenting
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| adj.不同意的 | |
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astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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eminently
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| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
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attested
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| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
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commonwealth
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| n.共和国，联邦，共同体 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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41
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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43
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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maligned
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| vt.污蔑，诽谤（malign的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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restriction
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| n.限制，约束 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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50
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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51
impoverished
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| adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化 | |
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52
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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53
appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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54
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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55
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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56
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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57
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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