To his personal character Judge Fox paid this merited tribute: Judge Ware was of marked simplicity of character, and was always actuated by entire singleness of heart and purpose. The kindest and most friendly relations ever existed between him and the members of this bar. His intercourse with us was ever free and informal, never in the least pretentious; and it always was a pleasure to him, to assist us by his advice in relation to his own decisions, as well as to principles of law upon which we desired information; and I have very frequently in this manner received from him most valuable assistance which it would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, to have procured from any other source. He had no favorites. Every one who appeared in his court, whether young or old, was certain that all stood on an equality in his presence. With courtesy and the greatest patience he listened to the views which counsel saw fit to present, the manifest purpose of the judge being to obtain light, to aid him in his determination of the cause without regard to the source whence it was derived. No one ever took part in a trial before the judge, without becoming attracted to him, and feeling the highest respect for him, as well for the kindness of heart ever exhibited to whatever counsel a party might select to advocate his rights, as for his diligent attention, for his acute wisdom and judgment, and the learning and research manifested in his elaborate opinions. Besides his published judicial opinions, models at once of learning and style, were many fugitive contributions to political journals. Judge Ware also furnished several articles to" Bouveir's Law Dictionary" upon legal subjects. He delivered the Phi Beta Kappa oration at Brunswick, in 1827, which was published and greatly admired. He married in 1831, Sarah Morgridge, whom, though much younger than himself, he survived. He left three children, Joseph, a lawyer, residing last in Washington, D. C., now deceased, and two daughters, Emma, and Sarah, now Mrs. Mackay, residing in Europe with her husband. allerwards in Cambrite filmes PROCEEDINGS OF THE MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. EVENING SESSION, DECEMBER 23, 1882. In the evening the hall of the Society was well filled by the friends and admirers of Professor Alpheus Spring Packard, who had assembled to do him honor on his eighty-fourth birthday, and a little later he entered, accompanied by Hon. J. W. Bradbury and E. H. Elwell, Esq., and was enthusiastically received. All present gladly noted his vigorous walk, erect carriage and wonderful freedom from decrepitude. The meeting was called to order by Hon. J. W. Bradbury, President of the Society, who spoke as follows: → MR. BRADBURY'S REMARKS. Members of the Historical Society: We have assembled this evening to testify our regard for, and tender our congratulations to, a revered associate, the oldest living member of our Society, for many years its secretary and librarian, and always devoted to its interests, who has by the favor of a kind Providence reached in almost unabated vigor his fourscore and four years, sixty-four of which have been given, without interruption, to the noble occupation of teacher in the oldest and most distinguished college in our State. The great Roman orator, after filling the highest positions at the bar, in the forum and in the councils of the nation, and enjoying a life-long experience in these exalted stations, took occasion to leave on record, in one of the most carefully considered productions of his pen, his estimate of the services of the teacher. "It is certain," he says, "there cannot be a more important or a more honorable occupation than to train the rising generation, and instruct them in the duties to which they may be hereafter called." The most illustrious philosophers whose names have come down to us from antiquity spent much of their time in instructing the young in reasoning, knowledge and virtue. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle were teachers. Nearly five centuries before the Christian era, Socrates had his pupils who attended daily upon his instruction, and he deemed it the most solid reward to form a virtuous character, and make his pupils his affectionate friends. Plato, one of his disciples, attained to such excellence that it was said of him by Cicero, that were Jupiter to converse in the language of men he would express himself in Plato's phrase. Aristotle, Plato's most illustrious pupil, who ruled the intellectual world for centuries, was a teacher for many years in the Lyceum, and Alexander the Great owed his education to him. Our respected and revered associate has made his life a grand success in devoting it to this noble calling. Dr. Packard has been so long identified with Bowdoin College that his history is largely that of the college itself. He entered it as a student in 1812, was graduated in 1816, elected tutor in 1819, a professor in 1825, and has continued uninterruptedly a member of the faculty of instruction to the present time. The first class was graduated in 1806, only six years prior to his entry, and of nineteen hundred and ninety-four graduates from this institution, whose names are upon the catalogue (not including our twelve hundred and fifty medical students, many of whom have done honor to the State), to which are to be added those who did not complete their college course, all save one hundred and twelve, making more than nineteen hundred young men, have gone forth from these classic halls, after sharing his instruction. How many have been aided and strengthened in their preparation for the great battle of life by his teaching, counsels and example. I am aware of the instinctive delicacy that shrinks from any personal allusion, but our respected friend must permit me to say, as one of the number, in behalf of the rest as well as of myself, that we always found in him the faithful teacher, the kind friend, the Christian gentleman, who pointed out the path of duty and showed us how to walk therein, and that on leaving our Alma Mater we carried with us and have ever cherished for him sentiments of affection and regard. Teacher of teachers, long may he be spared, by his words and his life to instruct and to guide, realizing that the work he has begun is going forward, that his influence will continue to extend in an increasing circle after all who have listened to his voice shall have passed away. I will no longer delay you, as it is to others you will have the pleasure of listening. It is enough to have deserved the encomium of our own illustrious poet, Honor and reverence, and good repute Be unto him, whom living we salute. At the conclusion of Mr. Bradbury's remarks, James Phinney Baxter, Esq., read a poem, written by him for the occasion, as follows: GREETING TO THE MENTOR. Hail, Sage revered! all hail! We, poor of speech, Though hardly may our voices overreach A day's brief space, our love for thee is great; It was but yesterday we crowned him here We greet thee from our hearts: yet, well we know Hath any coal from Song's high altar shed, But, gentle teacher, though we may not bring To thee the tribute of inspiréd song; We fain would cheer thee with such words as spring To verbal life and dissonantly throng On our rude lips; so, as we halt along, An antique story we to thee will tell Of one who in great Athens once might dwell. Upon a golden Summer's afternoon, When birds trilled in the hedges, and the bees Hummed to the drowsy flowers one changeless tune, A man of aspect grave, like one who sees, Or strives to see, things men call mysteries, As he would solve a riddle hard to trace. Into the Agora, this moody wight Wandered like one distraught, what time the crowd Thronged toward the Pnyx, to catch, if so they might, Some drops of wisdom from the surcharged cloud Of eloquence, which soon would burst aloud From the impassioned lips of Pericles, He heard the plaudits of the throng, and saw |