1937–38 Volume 62 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

Justice McReynolds on Vacation
[Reprinted from New York Times, August 13, 1937]
JUSTICE JAMES CLARK McREY-
NOLDS [Vanderbilt '83], of the
United States Supreme Court sailed
for Europe yesterday on the Queen Mary
in an aura of gentle good-will toward all
the world.
Times Wide World Photo
MR. JUSTICE MCREYNOLDS
Known in Washington for his blunt
speech and stern demeanor, the 75-yearold
justice beamed alike on autograph
hunters, photographers, and reporters,
posing his massive, frame against an A
deck pillar, scribbling his signature on
white squares of paper and discoursing
in a philosophic mood on his bachelorhood
and the charms and wit of women.
While stewards scurried through the
alleyways calling all visitors ashore Justice
McReynolds sat in his cabin and gave
himself full rein on all subjects, barring
only one—the Court. At the end he cautioned
reporters to eschew the attractive
but dangerous quotation mark on their
typewriter keyboards and said he had
told everything he knew.
[28]
Mr. McReynolds, seeking a change of
the Continent, is accompanied by an old
atmosphere in England and perhaps on
friend and college classmate. Sterling
Price Gilbert [Vanderbilt '83], former
Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court,
and the latter's wife. He plans to be
back about October 1.
After the autograph brokers and the
photographers were finished with him a
reporter expressed surprise that the justice
had not turned out to be a bluff
"fire-eater." He said that if he had such
a reputation it was undeserved. Somehow
the conversation turned to the fact
that he never had married and he said
the reason was that no one ever would
accept him.
"There will be a wave of sympathy for
you surging through the country tomorrow,"
he was told and he replied that he
enjoyed having many women friends and
considered it a great privilege because
in his opinion women were so much
smarter than men.
It seemed natural to ask if he would
not lead a different life if he could start
all over again, but he retorted that he
might not even start over again, if he had
the choice.
He recalled that the late Justice Oliver
Wendell Holmes had told him at the age
of 80 that the years from 70 to 80 had
been the happiest of his life. Efforts to
obtain further comment from Mr. Mc­
Reynolds on the importance of being 70
were unavailing.
Much depended on a man's health, he
said, adding that his health was excellent,
his life had been eventful, free of trouble
or encumbrances and with no wife to
bang him over the head, upsetting his
peace of mind.
When they get to England, he and the
Gilberts will make a motor tour of the
British Isles.