pany. His offices were the Mecca for men of affairs, who entrusted their interests to his keeping, which he regarded with scrupulous fidelity. A number of times Judge Bradford sat on the supreme bench by special appointment of the governor and his opinions in our state reports are hardly excelled for legal acumen, clear deduction and faultless diction. Mr. Bradford was not of that class, we hope it is the old school and that it has passed, who believed that slovenly dress and indifference to surroundings in the law office impressed the public with legal skill. His was the attire of the gentleman he was, his workshop a model of business activity. The young lawyer ever found a ready listener when he sought counsel at this fount of knowledge. It is at least the privilege, if not the duty, of the seasoned practitioner to help the green neophyte as he embarks upon his career.

Mr. Bradford made several tours of Europe, adding to his culture by inspecting the wonderful galleries and museums of treasures on that wonderful continent. His letters, which appeared in the press, were replete with interest and charmed his readers, some of whom revelled in his allusions to Lausanne, pregnant with memories of the greatest secular historian, Edward Gibbon.

J. C. Bradford was a familiar figure at church in Nashville and he lived the life of a Christian gentleman.

His last public benefaction was his connection with the George Peabody School for Teachers, now verging into one of the nation's greatest educational seats. Judge Bradford devoted much time and thought to this philanthropy and was a leading official in the organization. In fact, we believe, he was returning from the east on business for it when he was attacked with his fatal illness. Mr. Bradford took a leading part in the annexation of Edgfield to Nashville, which meant so much to both cities.

Judge Bradford, in 1906, wrote a remarkable article on "Good Government and Good Citizenship," which created widespread interest. It attracted attention in the state of New York and the Troy Press placed the following extract at the head of its editorial column:

"In our country a higher quality of citizenship, both in morality and intelligence, is required than perhaps in any

other country of the world. We have in this republic a dual system of government, national and state, each operating in the same territory and upon the same persons, and yet working without collision, because their functions are different. There have arisen during the past thirty years new conditions, which have evoked the exercises of the powers of government in a manner and to an extent hitherto unknown. To preserve the even balance between the state and national governments, so that the one may not encroach on the other; to give the government all the authority necessary to defend the country from foreign aggression and guarantee to every citizen the equal protection of the laws are the sacred duties of the American people; and these great objects cannot be secured unless they maintain the very highest standard of citizenship.-James C. Bradford."

This was written at the time when Wm. Travers Jerome and Gov. Chas. E. Hughes were standing for reforms in the Empire State. Before the Bar Association of Tennessee, Mr. Bradford a few years ago delivered a notable address on "American Democracy and Some of its Tendencies." We quote from the concluding lines:

"I could not conclude this paper without referring to a great public question which recent events have created and which evidences a tendency common to all governments—territorial expansion. No departure from the traditions and settled policy of a country could have been more radical and sudden than ours. We have now annexed Hawaii and within a few months we shall have Porto Rico and, perhaps, the Philippines.

*** *

*

*

*

*

"I am no optimist, and I do not mean to say, or even hope, that the future of our country will not be beset with perils and difficulties. Nor do I believe the millenium is so near that we shall cease to have corrupt legislatures, and evil and incapable government. And I know that problems of great importance, the right solution of which will be difficult will arise. Government is a difficult science at best, and the coming years will make it more so. No form of govern. ment is perfect, and all of them blunder and make mistakes. But, if we should believe that our democratic government will fall, we will give ourselves up to despair. It will not fail, but through much travail, and with much blundering, it will preserve the liberties of the people, promote their happiness, and advance the nation to greater power and influence.

"Brethren, our country is now united as never before, in the bonds of patriotic love. May we not believe, as well as hope, that she will, under democratic institutions ever continue to be:

"The Land of the Free

"And the Home of the Brave."

Judge Bradford was a former president of the Nashville Bar and library association and was one of the charter members and the first secretary and treasurer (1881-84) of the Bar Association of Tennessee, our own organization, of which he continued a member to the day of his death, which occurred last month (May) at his beautiful country seat, "Woodstock" on the Franklin Road, near Nashville. He was paralyzed three years, having suffered three strokes, but his mind was clear to the end. He left surviving his widow, formerly Miss Sarah Polk Jones, of Maury County, Tennessee, a lady of broad culture and influence, whom he married in 1889, his son, Thomas H., a young business man, a daughter, Mrs. Shaughnessy, who married the son of Sir Thomas Shaughnessy of Canada. His brother's son was named for and lived with him. Judge Bradford's funeral was conducted, amid the books of his extensive library, which he loved so well, by Rev. Dr. H. J. Mikell, of Christ Episcopal church, and a number of fellow lawyers bore his body to his last resting place.

The Bar Association of Tennessee, which he helped to found, has lost a valued member and fellow-laborer, whose place cannot well be filled. His family are deprived of a kind protector and the state has lost a shining light. Our brother has passed on to appear before the Eternal Judge, at whose great White Throne we shall all stand in the resurrection of the dead.

"Now the laborer's task is o'er;

Now the battle day is past;

Now upon the farther shore

Lands the voyager at last.

Father, in Thy gracious keeping

Leave we now Thy servant sleeping.

There the tears of earth are dried;

There its hidden things are clear;

There the work of life is tried

By a juster judge than here.

Father, in Thy gracious keeping

Leave we now Thy servant sleeping.

'Earth to earth and dust to dust,'

Calmly now the words we say,

Left behind, we wait in trust

For the resurrection day.

Father, in Thy gracious keeping

Leave we now Thy servant sleeping."

ROBERT EDWARD LEE MOUNTCASTLE

The death of our Brother Mountcastle is a sad and deplorable event in the history of the Bar and the State of Tennessee at large.

In apparent good health a few days before, he died Friday night, August 8, at 11:30 o'clock, at Lincoln Memorial Hospital, in Knoxville, Tenn., as the result of complications arising from a surgical operation.

Robert Edward Lee Mountcastle was born in Jefferson City, Tenn., February 21, 1865, being at the time of his death in his forty-ninth year. He was the son of the late A. J. and Cornelia F. Williams Mountcastle. In 1880, Mr. Mountcastle took his degree of A. B. at Carson and Newman college, Jefferson City, after which he attended Washington and Lee University at Lexington, Va., graduating from there with the A. B. degree in 1882. He then read law and in 1885 was admitted to the state bar and began practicing at Lynchburg in Moore County. In 1892 he moved to Morristown and formed a partnership with James T. Shields and the present United States Senator, John K. Shields. He remained in Morristown until 1903, when he came to Knoxville and became a member of the law firm of Shields, Cates & Mountcastle. Since then Mr. Mountcastle had been actively engaged in the practice of law and had been associated in some of the most important litigations in the state. He has also on several occasions served as special judge.

In 1904, Mr. Mountcastle was elected democratic national committeeman from Tennessee, and held that position at the time of his death, having been twice re-elected. From 1900 to 1904 he was a member of the Tennessee State Democratic Executive Committee, and was also a district delegate to the democratic national convention at Chicago in 1892. He was appointed to the staff of Gov. James B. Frazier in January, 1903.

The deceased was one of the most prominent lawyers in Tennessee and served as president of the Tennessee State Bar Association in 1902 and 1903. He was equally at home in all branches of his profession, criminal or civil, and was one of the most accomplished lawyers in the state. He was a man of fine judgment, and in his death Tennessee loses one of her most brilliant legal lights.

Mr. Mountcastle had been active in politics, local, state and national, for twenty years, and although he himself had never been a candidate for any position except that of democratic national committeeman, he wielded a large influence in the politics of the state.

On March 20, 1889, Mr. Mountcastle was married to Miss Eliza Bird Salmon, of Lynchburg, who survives him. He also leaves two daughters and two sons. They are Misses Louise and Marguerite, Paul a student at the University of Tennessee, and Fred. He also leaves two brothers, Frank, of Johnson City, and George of Lexington, N. C., and two sisters, Mrs. Clyde Yoe and Miss Eulah Mountcastle of Jefferson City.

Mr. Mountcastle was a member of the Presbyterian church at Jefferson City.

Gifted by nature with talents above the average, possessed of a clear, logical and big brain, the soul of honor, educated and trained not only in the law, but in other branches of literature, science and art; devoted to his profession, he well deserved the reputation which he enjoyed of being at the head of his profession.

No man despised the little and mean more than Lee Mountcastle and he was the peer of any lawyer in courtesy and respect for his adversary and his opponents' positions. No lawyer excelled him in being fair, just and honorable in the conduct of his profession.