Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (IV)
Bill Long 10/22/05
Remembering Shattuck and Endicott
In his noteworthy biography of Reinhold Neibuhr, Professor Richard Fox mentioned the intimidation felt by Niebuhr, a product of a small Lutheran college in the midwest, when he attended Yale Divinity School in the "teens." Though he quickly overcame this feeling, Niebuhr was almost overwhelmed initially by the men whose 'middle names were more distinguished than their surnames.' Such are the two men whom Holmes remembers here: George OTIS Shattuck and William CROWNINSHIELD Endicott (though Endicott isn't a shabby name to have in MA).
The stories told by Holmes about these two men tell us, predictably, as much about him as about his friends. What they tell me about him is that he is closely observes but graciously forgives human frailty and that he easily recognizes and heartily affirms unique human contributions. Ultimately, however, he sees our efforts as part of the great symphony of life, as contributing one tributary to the several streams that make up the rivers of our culture leading to the ocean of life. We give our life to the good of the greater Life, and most of us die unknown, and we continue to live only "in the tissue" of the work of succeeding generations (p. 96).
Shattuck
Shattuck was Holmes' law partner, twelve years his senior when the latter began to practice law in Boston in 1867. The difference between 26 and 38 is much different than that between 48 and 60 in terms of experience, and Holmes was in the former position with respect to Shattuck. Recall Holmes' praise of Gray, the scholar, the one who lost himself in other worlds that had long ago disappeared. It was unstinted and deeply appreciative. But what does he say about Shattuck?
"Questions of here and now occupy nine hundred and ninety-nine thousands of the ability of the world; and when the now has passed and has given place to another now, the heads and hands that built the organic structure of society are forgotten from the speech of their fellows, and live only in the tissue of their work."
Shattuck, unlike Gray, was a man of the "here and now." Shattuck would be one of those who would be forgotten. "But remembered or forgotten, few indeed, I believe, of those whom I have seen counted for as much in the hardest work of the day" [as Shattuck]. Thus, Holmes was able to express his true admiration and love both for the recondite scholar and the engaged man of the world. The work of both lives in the "great vibrating web of the world."
But what did Shattuck mean for Holmes personally? OW says it immediately:
"I owe Mr. Shattuck more than I ever have owed any one else in the world, outside my immediate family. From the time when I was a student in his office until he died, he was my dear and intimate friend. He taught me unrepeatable lessons. He did me unnumbered kindnesses.... My education would have been but a thin and poor thing had I missed that great experience."
In language of 2005, Shattuck was Holmes' "mentor." He lists many unique skills Shattuck had, such as skill in handling cross-examination or diligence in case preparation, but the fact that he seemed to care for Holmes at the beginning of his career is dispositive. And Holmes is eternally grateful for this care. Can't we see not simply the glory of Shattuck, but the grace of Holmes in so saying this?
Endicott
William Crowninshield Endicott died in 1900 at the end of a distinguished legal career that culminated in his being a predecessor Justice to Holmes on MA's Supreme Judicial Court (1873-1882) as the Secretary of War in the first Cleveland administration (1885-1888). In a felicitous opening sentence about Endicott, Holmes says:
"It is November and the last leaves are falling that once screened my generation from the sky."
A doubly-delicious sentence is here. November in New England sees the last leaves reluctantly fall from the oaks and maples before Winter's cold sets in. But Holmes, who is now 59 when speaking, realizes that the last giant figures of the generation previous to him are now breathing their last. Soon he will be exposed directly to the open sky. Who has not felt the same way in the passing of parents? Those who "screened" us for so long are now gone, leaving us as the next ones who face that inscrutable sky.
What does Holmes remember about Endicott? Not the political exploits near the end or even his service on the MA court (indeed Holmes confesses that he can't accurately estimate Endicott's contribution as a judicial writer--129). What he recalls is Endicott's kindness to him. He says:
"When I was still very young, for some reason I could never explain except by his kindness, he called me into a case which he was going to try in Boston, as his junior. It was a case involving, if I remember rightly, some of those dealings of builders and contractors which are enough to puzzle or at least confuse older heads than mine was then. I fear that I never understood it and that I was but little hielp to him."
But there was a lesson Holmes learned through this.
"The thoroughness of his preparation, the calmness which he separated and drew out the tangled threads, the luminous ardor with which he put his case to the jury, all were enough to inspire a neophyte with enthusiasm. And then his consideration for me, his manner to all--a wonderful contrast to much that then was tolerated" (128).
Conclusion
When I read these two reminiscences stories I was immediately reminded of the occasion in Augustine's Confessions where Augustine approaches the great Bishop Ambrose when the former was a young man. All were in great awe of Ambrose, especially because when he read he didn't read aloud--he simply moved his lips and strangely was able to internalize the words by so doing. But Augustine recounts the fact that this great man showed him kindness by asking about his welfare and taking him under his wing. The small acts of human kindness to the next generation are probably almost forgotten by those older ones who extend the kindness but are pivotal in the experience of the next generation. Kindness produces giants.
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