, in spite of
the apparent weight of the evidence. That Court, in his time,
had exclusive jurisdiction of divorces and other matters affecting
the marital relations. The Judge had to hear and deal with
transactions of humble life and of country life. It was surprising
how this man, bred in a city, in high social position, having
no opportunity to know the modes of thought and of life of
poor men and of rustics, would settle these interesting and
delicate questions, affecting so deeply the life of plain
men and country farmers, and with what unerring sagacity he
came to the wise and righteous result.

Judge Gray's opinions for the eighteen years during which
he sat on the Bench of Massachusetts constitute an important
body of jurisprudence, from which the student can learn the
whole range of the law as it rests on principle and on authority.

And so it came to pass when the place of Mr. Justice Clifford
became vacant that by the almost universal consent of the
New England Circuit, with the general approval of the profession
throughout the whole country, Mr. Justice Gray became his
successor. Of his service here there are men better qualified
to speak than I am. He took his place easily among the great
Judges of the world. He has borne himself in his great office
so, I believe, as to command the approbation of his countrymen
of all sections and of all parties. He has been every inch
a Judge. He has maintained the dignity of his office everywhere.
He has endeared himself to a large circle of friends here
at the National Capital by his elegant and gracious hospitality.
His life certainly has been fortunate. The desire of his
youth has been fulfilled. From the time, more than fifty
years ago, when he devoted himself to his profession, there
has been, I suppose, no moment when he did not regard the
office of a Justice of the Supreme Court as not only the most
attractive but also the loftiest of human occupations. He
has devoted himself to that with a single purpose. He has
sought no fame or popularity by any other path. Certainly
his life has been fortunate. It has lasted to a good old age.
But the summons came for him when his eye was not dimmed nor
his natural force abated. He drank of the cup of the waters
of life while it was sweetest and clearest, and was not left
to drink it to the dregs. He was fortunate also, almost beyond
the lot of humanity, in that by a rare felicity, the greatest
joy of youth