Frederic Carroll Brewster. opened the office door and told a genialfaced gentleman that he wished to see Mr. Binney. " That is my name," came in cheer ful tones from the gentleman. " What can I do for you? " The pleasant surprise at find ing a great man so affable to a stranger youth having passed away, the latter told the object of his visit. " It is a very wise peti tion, and one which every member of the bar should sign; but, my dear young sir, be fore I sign the same, I must ascertain whether or not the date of the act is correctly set forth in the petition and whether or not the title as the petition states it is verbatim with the statute books." "But," exclaimed the young man, somewhat emboldened at his kind reception, " my father drew up the peti tion and there is his signature appended to it. Is not that sufficient?" "No doubt, my dear young sir, but in such matters I do not like to accept even possible responsibilities of inadvertent mistakes and therefore depend entirely upon myself." Then consulting his office library he verified the citation, appended his signature and baile a hearty good-bye to his young acquaintance. Young Brewster's next call was upon Mr. Seargeant, who received him with great kind ness, but, notwithstanding the signatures of the elder Brewster and Horace Binney, he too looked up the citation before signing his name, saying that he never trusted such a thing to another. After narrating this incident the late Judge said it taught him two lessons : Always to be kind to those beginning their study of lawjand in legal matters never to depend upon his own memory nor another's word, but always to investigate for himself. That he learned these lessons well, his whole life is a proof. There were circumstances connected with ex-Judge Brewster's death that rendered it very pathetic. For some weeks previous he had been feeling unwell, suffering from an attack of asthma. His indisposition did not cause him to relinquish business duties, and
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but two days before the end came he attended the City Solicitors' Convention and, after an eloquent speech, nominated Mr. Kinsey, the present incumbent, for that office. The weather was very cold and the building unheated, and the physical effort was too much for the invalid's overtaxed system. He had already intended to go South for his health, and this fresh attack made him determine to go at once. On Thursday, December 29, 1 898, he left Philadelphia. During the night he grew much worse and died on the train at Charlotte, N. C. Thus passed away one of the greatest men that has ever adorned the legal profession in Philadelphia. Frederic Carroll Brewster was an unique character, an individual separated from the ordinary lawyer by his manner, his ability — in short, by his own personality. His was a nature that could stand upon the heights of authority and not become dizzy; one that could receive honors with due appreciation and yet remain unchanged; one that was never unduly elated by a life of constant suc cesses. The last generation furnished many eminent jurists, and if the testimony of men is to be valued F. Carroll Brewster is entitled to the first place in a line of leaders. No man ever enjoyed higher honors, socially, professionally or politically than he, nor has there ever been one whose memory will be more deeply venerated, nor one whose loss is more keenly felt. His life is well summarized in the an nouncement of his death made in the Su preme Court of Pennsylvania by Hon. S. G. Thompson : " I have been designated this clay to perform the sad duty of announcing the death of the Hon. F. Carroll Brewster. For nearly half a century he has been con spicuous in the affairs of our city and our commonwealth. As City Solicitor he repre sented our municipality and, as such, carefully and thoroughly guarded her interests. As a judge of the court of common pleas of our county, he performed the judicial functions with an ability which placed him in front
