A REMARKABLE JUDGE,

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 7, 3 October 1907, Page 5

A REMARKABLE JUDGE,

• In England recently, Judge Willis said that a singlo' man can !ivo in that country in comfort on £1 a weok. This was very likely tho result of the learned judge's own personal experience, for ho began life as a draper's assistant, and made his way by sheer hard work and cleverness to li'is present eifiinont position. Ho is, indeed, .'one of. the most remarkable examples of what perseverance arid grit 'can accomplish. Tho son of, a straw-hat' manufacturer, lie was bom at Dunstable in 1835. On leaving school, ! he obtained a situation in Luton, and afterwards came to London, where ho was in business for six years. But his. energetic nature was not contont with' tho dull routine of business lifo, and in 1857. ho matriculated at London University, obtaining liis B.A. degrco two years later. In 18G1 lie tfa's called to the Bar, and rapidly distinguished himself as an able advocate;, 1877 saw him a Q.C., and in 1897 ho became a full-blown judge. He is ono of the most unconventional of lawyers, and ono of his favourite hobbies is to got into conversation'with utter strangers. He is a groat believer in the goodness'of' human nature, and nothing delights him more than to find some noble quality in ono of his fellow-moil. He is also a <jreat reader, and is very fond of collecting old books. • Some time ago, he caused something like a sensation in Court by refusing to allow ' noisy baby to be token outside. "Let it remain," lie said, "babies do not disturb mo."