W rT,'.11 i f r' fC? mJWY S'j rjr KTiffl sp ttyxsw rrifrr VW 'm&nww f ---i-if- w , v. M 'C v V Z' ' 1 $$4 EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER-PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1922 i. ' a 15 IND LAWYER, AIDED BY HIS INDOMITABLE IV ILL OT . -t e. AND DEVOTION OF HIS WIFE, MAY GO TO U. S. SENATE rc.1 ill "JM'iSSfl ti&zkffl t ? Jenry Ridgely, Leader of the Delaware Bar and Probable Democratic Nomi nee for the Senatorial Tega, Seeks Opportunity for Public Service "THE WORLD NEEDS MEN OF VISIONUNSELFISH SPOKESMEN, "HE DECLARES Unflagging Loyalty of Helpmate Sup ports Him in His Interest in Farming, Literature, Athletics and Solution of Pressing Problems of the Day fc 'TV y i xx i 4 iv 111 s MOT all of the world's fighting men nrc in uniform And there are wars and campaigns and battles en this earth where the blaring trumpet docs net sound, nor cannon thunder. There nrc men and women who win battles that arc as long a3 life against tremendous odds of physical handicap; who, in a sense, ignore these odds; who, with their own superhuman effort and the constant help and comradeship of a silent partner, force the enemy te play the role of friend. Of such a group of intrepid fight ers is Henry Ridgely, of Dever, blind, and yet a leading lawyer of the State of Delaware, successful farmer of 400 acres of apple, peach and grape, and heralded Democratic nominee for the United States Sen ate Of such is .Mrs. Henry Ridgely, his wife, who with eyes that help te see for him, who with a will that fights beside his, four-square te all obsta cles, is as dauntless and victorious for h:m as he could be for himself. Their interest is one, their battle is one, their victory is one victory. Mr. Ridgely is president of the corporation of the Farmers' Bank, of Dever, which is the depository for the State and county moneys; he is a trustee of the University of Dela ware and chairman of the Commit tee en Instruction which cheeses the faculty. And he is the author of the only complete digest of the State of Delaware's judicial reports. "And," says Mrs. Ridgely with pardonable pride, "you may discount it because I am his wife, but I be lieve he is the greatest lawyer in the State if net in the country." With all his activity, Much con stantly mrews mm into me arena , f ,,, 6rJ- S&&T4 i' KCT J .u x- w ,; i'i tsy&w&iri zyKX- ' w. m u m vx "And he Is eloquent. He lines up his points one by one with umazlng force nnd Insurmountable conviction. He is a legal opponent that any man can tremble te meet without belying cour age." Leves Poetry and Enjoys Free Verse in a Measure Hut net nil tin books Mr. Ridgely nml Ills wife rend nrc Jienks that hc nerds te remember. Ter Instance be enjoys poetry. .... , ., . "I'erlinps I hheuldn t confess tlmt sometimes folk object te n man en joying verse." lie smiled one of bis infrequent smiles. "Hut I de enjoy verse." "And be enjoys free verse, tee Amy Lewell. She's written some beautiful tilings, don't you think?" added Mrs. Ridgely. "Dut be Is net n complete cou ceu ert te free verse " Mr. Ridgely buys nil the latest books en International nnd nntlennl affairs, also publications such ns the Man chester (Juardlan. It is his desire te keep nbrcat of the times, nnd he ap parently succeed"', with the help of Mrs. Ridgely. Concerning his prebnble selection as nf our tools," Is the way the venerable Henry R. Jehnsen phrases It, "per fect the tools we Iihvp left for eltr work. We've developed our memory, our minds se thnt thinking hns be come dearer nnd mere incisive." z On The Green Mr. Ridgely is U11 numbered among the "young, netlvi" men. Hut Mr. Jehnsen, gray hearted figure, walking nleng the shaded paths of The Green, hns become a mentor. "The jeung lawyers, when they stumble en n stickler In lnw nnd can't make an thing of it," said the old man's colleague, "go te see Mr. John John Jehn eon." If Mr. Ridgely wins the Democratic nomination for the 1'nltcd States Son Sen ate. and is elected, be will be the sec- end blind mnn te take part in the deliberations of the Natien at "Wash ington. The ether Is Hennter Themas I'ryer Gere, of Oklahoma. Their lives are in mnny respect similar. Neither was horn blind, though Tim pollle line, which had been romp- ! Kenoter Cere bcenmc blind at a much ing n half hour before en the bench with . enrllcr nge thnn Mr. Ridgely. At ten the two bothers, walked quietly out en he was blinded through nn accident the perch and then snuggd up ngnlnst while nt piny. Senater Gote aha cultl! the chair in which Mr. Ridgely sat. I vnted a passion for rending, ns a youth, "The deg's nnme?" Mr. Ridgely re- and his memory developed as remnrk pentcd. "Oh, dint's a kind of joke." i ably as Mr. Rldgely's. He wns inter- will net simply remain cogs In the great machine of an organlzntieu, but will attack problems disinterestedly, and with only one desire, and that te folve them for the geed of the greatest num ber." It Is said in Dever that Mr. Ridgely enrrles something of the sumo attitude te his legal puzzles. Disinterested in Meney; Turns Mind te Problems "He Is net out after the money ; he Is Interested in the legnl problem, which te the best of his ability he tries te disentangle for the geed of the neigh borhood," the Inhabitants of Dever will tell ybu. And they will add that therein he Is much like his blind father before him. who would never try n case unless he was first convinced of the Innocence of his client. And If his client was net in necent he refused te take the rase. Wi 1 J i -, '!,M ! iEKHI 3TV && VJB nnd then te view the company with grave and acute interest. Mr. Ridgely is a tall, dark, thoughtful man. In immaculate flan nel trousers, dark blue coat and white shee3 when he had dressed after the bath, he sat easily in a great wicker chair. Beside him, en a wall bench, was Mrs. Ridgely, fresh-looking and youthful in hcr'i light, cool summer dress. Sightless Eyes, Set Deep in a Streng, Fighting Face Mr. Ridgely 's manner is direct, incisive. Only fleeting de the curves of a smile soften the strong lines of his face. Fer the most part, his face is that of a fighter net one of brawn se much as one of deep, clean, vigorous thought. "T am what I call a double-breasted Delawarcnn." he sold. Since 1745, bis family hns lived iu Dever. And It has been a family of distinction. Dr. Charles Ridgely was a member of the Colonial Assembly and of the Convention which framed the Constitution in 1770. The lawyer's grandfather. Henry M. Ridgely, was elected te the 1'nlted States Seaate br the Whigs. Nicholas Ridgely was the father of chancellery in this country. Mr. Rldgely's own father, blind during the latter portion of his life, was Secietary of Stale of Del aware, lad also a practicing lawyer i & ??: ,s" W ; 52 "K V mm ?Z wta RnK Ml I 1S ?V?5& !.' O'A, tf... :'. ', mtmrnn it".- :, w.r'W x vih' 2v of public life, Mr. Ridgely has se subordinated his blindness te his in tense determination te meet nil men en equal trj-ms, te receive no defor defer defor ence because of his physical handi cap, that, it is said, one half of the men and women who meet him never realize that he is blind. Indeed, it might be said that Henry Ridgely is net blind. He walks the stieets of his native town, Dever, unassisted. He faces the bench or a jury in the encn court room with unflagging energy and intelligence. He prepares his cases and makes his digests with little were assistance than any attorney requires. He diiects the business of an immense and paying farm. He Kads, swims and dances. In the memory of one of his fol fel low attorneys, who lias known Henry Uupvy for the last fifteen ars, only four times during their he acquaintance hns Mr. Ridgely Mentioned his blindness. Henry Ridgely, with affectionate distance fiem his wife, refuses te remember that he is blind; he fixes Ns clients with eyes that aie strik m cleai and ardent, se that they, " "icy Knew, forget his infirmity; " meets 0IW opponents en the e teim, and usually wins-se ". te nil intents and purpose.?, the "nd nan is net blind. tnlnV'""'1 scp my we11, IIenry a l. is the quaint way his cousin, "wy R. Jeluwin, also a lawyer of Uev, and blmd, puts it. Jnd one is forced te accept Mr. ly en these tens. At the very 61 ". he "can't see very well." 10 was f(1n,i i)ati,inB with his D,7 in the bieakcrs nt Rohehoth, da-' i? "umer home, the ether nlrlft i ntlractlve fme cottage Pmrn .u c ocean fl'em n low bff defs f, P0reh the ,lcn(' "'"I sheul- Hid. i , hc'avire rollers, Mrs. CI l "1,0Ut in 'he -rf he?0mu meniG"ts the couplo ceuplo couple nse , n ' nrt,culrly charming ater ""-"'Icship-left the ing'in, Mn" K,,,Kc,y- nftcr from iS 1"me of the cn water kanl 0TC ,a,thinR f,0l,k PP i , r mouth un(1 called: l0- Mae! Peine!" and IT! C,lie 1,ou(0(l "He view nli th,eni r,'m B ,lccivity " me beach. Wi,? llan ' the lawyr " his Ithln rr0nch0fI thalr hem. nntl thel, , I TmcntH th(Jy appeared it. itiLiinn.i r.u-i. m ... 'cl!ev cannrln. rn,i t K.M f?r the mernnP. circled fccnirping and atennlnn. new 'My nee Is fifty-three, and the ninnlli of my birth was January," Henry Ridgely said. He took a high school cniirtc in Dever, mid then entered the law office of his father, Edward Ridgely. Later a period at the Wesley Collegiate In stitute and a special course at the Uni ersity of I'eaiibjhania concluded his legal training, nnd he wns admitted te the bar when lie was twenty-one sears old. During all this period be bad full Mrs. Ridgely reading In her husband en the perch of their Rchobeth cottnge Yes, in Jenes Creek, right by the farm, there ere all sorts of op portunities for rowing. I call It creek, though there Is still a difference of opinion. Yeu knew," she smiled, "the Almightly made it a creek, but the Uevernment made it a river. up. That's net a geed habit. And I don't recommend it. But it happen! thnt n geed deal of work in law l thinking the mind happens te be the only implement of chief importance in the business. I am in my office at 0 o'clock. My The heuse nt Dever, Del., which the Ridgely family has occupied since 1700 Ridgely is nn extremely busy! main work is 'the sreDaratleu of 'casca ssitae 'Vti '"mS"J m m hmk mmt mtfs?5f. $Z5&ts l1-"i ', ZK", ' ---. y-V-?, S'f 'fCf iRsssysf I L- T.T 1KJWa V-SuSsM T A WJU1IQ WWKK-V! !? f,WWfj Em ,K ..ktM And his grave fnce lighted up for i ested. tee, in books of history, pbilea- brief Instant. "His full name Is Reb Rey MncUrcger " "And we call him Mne of MncGre MncGre ger for short." laughed Mr. Ritkely Mr. Rldcely walked into the adjoin ing loom for n moment. This was the dining room, bright with cretonne and sunshine. , , During his nbsence Mrs. Ridgely said : .... "But you mustn't get the idea tnnt ephj especially pelitual philosophy eii'i at an cany nse entered the lnw school of Cumberland University. But Senater Gere's life differs from the Dever lawyer's in the fact thut the Senater bail ambitions for political IlftC He IUi elected m l!i()7 ns the first I nited States Senater from the State of (ilclalieinn. His clearness of "expression, his bril liant aeintj nt debate and in forceful I have te help Mr. Ridgely. lie gets r.-pnricp wen nun in ins eutli much thf around bv himself, tin neeus no i.eip "" n'l'uuniun as jir, ituigeiy enjoys. Ne," she' laughed again, "and he'll be 'j V0 Exploit able te take care of himself if he ever jr.i - A gets te the Senate." Innrmity in Career Mrs. Ridgely is a t-mall weman and Senater Cere has alwajs striken te a companionable one. She is almost ns prevent the exploitation of his intirmltv wieeij rjiuii imuuwiuui ,.' " - ut eusiiicss and political capital, in mm , lPSlH & -v wWB' ';v m. ?vIBl - ? WS ft HIB -w""MHi' V PS i WWBm WM i yfllllii r- VMm : MwwMMMMMM"BMJBMi ... The cetiage en ihe beach at Rchobeth, where Mr. Ridgely Indulges his fondness for surf bathing and the giving of opinions. And, of course, my office work includes the du ties In regard te the hnnk. I leave the office nt e, nnd then perhaps go te my farm. In the evenings I read." Mr. Ridgely's home is the old Ridgely heiiFO, en the northeast corner of the Green, in Dever. Adjoining the home and communicating with it is his office. His Is the eldest houf-e In the com munity and the only one which ha presurved Its original form. It wns built in 17US, and has been occupied bj Ridgelys since about 1700. It is n charming example of Colonial architecture. It Is of brick, with char acteristic white trimmings. The beau tiful texture of the walln is enhanced by clinging green Ivy. The interior is rich the library one of the nie.st t tractive, and undoubtedly the complete south of Wilmington. lems, (.aid Mr. Ridgely. "nnd thnt Is a nominee for ttie T'nlted States Senate, M,lL 'ii fnniun,K- There are mi Mr Ridsely is. c!rcumpcct. f ,f "re,tl,,ems eIe h farming. My "Yeu s0P," he remarked. "I am net iurni jiimi, large crop of fruit. a politician. If the people nominate nne en my hands new L'0,000 bushels of me. then, of course. I will fiuht for the early peaches; and seen there'll be election I'll campaign te the best of i.i. apiiics aim grapes. The most in-linj ability. It's a trite thing te be Mstent problem is proper distribution, s.iyimr. but I de net seek any nemlna- wie i iinn dcmaiids mesf f mi imn m ill l mn i,iin,iiv ii-iion.et.,,1 And lwehu years age it was believed thnt farmuiB was a simple matter. 1 lines have changed. Ne longer is it only a matter of brawn ; it is a matter of hi ams and brawn. Much of it is experimental. Them k n..r,l , .,. ml of research and reading, which we I might dignify with the nnme of '-uudv.' Lending almost directly from the 11-I ,Un problems are scientific the treat- brnry Is the hallway, nnd the deer te "lc,lt "' trees, the treatment of the il, wiiK-enus and a large tiortlen of inr In nrcMMit -rim nrnlilems tln.r nn ner. eciiings. jmpS net )PW jire,Plni )llt ti,p same Cnnrlnt'ta IISc rMM. "Id iirehlems dressed in new clothes as Scientific Problem Mr. Ridgely's efhee, where, with the assistance of Geeige M. Tlsher. nn at torney, nnd n stenegrnpher, he con ducts his lurge practice. In one corner stands the tjprwriter he himself uses for lib, personal letters. In another i corner of the beck room of the quaint , ii me lew-ceiuiiRen enice are two large ' his Dever home are lined mini; .-i. L"'". " ueui inur met tomes in llrallle. nig i. n. n iim i urn n (icpill OI a ..t si,,, i,r,. j -. v-... - i'tuiiii: ti(ii4 inv .' nre matters that point directly te the realm of science." Much of Mr. Ridgely's rending is done in company with his wife, al though he understands the various sis- lems of rendliiB for the blind The walls twecdledci' (if ether rooms besides the llbrnrv in a moment with large .softening "If I am nominated. I think I may be able te contribute nu attitude that would be .alutiuj in politics. It Is ail attitude which allows of no precon ceived feimulae. It is a careful, thoughtful, unbiased approach te prob lems which i an no lunger be solved by old feimulae "The world hns changed within the last tiw je.iis. The United .Stutes is net ju-t the same, the people aie net just the same a if there hadn't been n gicnt war The issues are no longer clear; tlre is no choice given the peo ple between between " "Tweedledum and twccdlcdcc'." sub mitted Mrs. Kidgeh. les. ticiweeii tweec edem . ' icpeated the Inwjer. for the lines nbeut hu mmli Delnware ns Is her husband. Fer the period of the war she was State chair man of the Third. Fourth nnd Fifth Libert v Lean drle. She was one of the officers In the Federal Reserve, head of the Suffrage campaign in her nUllC UDU lUUUl-l u. uw L'uiiiaiftuu lift l. Women's Clubs. I lai She is net a nntlve of Dever. She wns born In Baltimore, her maiden name. Mabel Llejd Fisher. Before her marriage she studied architecture in New Yerk Cltj . "Have I ever practiced?" And after a moment's rumination she decided thnt nn architect "practices" a well ns n physician. "Ne, I get married. But I did build a home once The first house I built, and the en! beuse, wns a deg house." Whether this maiden effort was for Mac or no , is a matter that was net illuiiilunted bj further disclosures liut in the restoration of the Ridgely thnt he is cl like Mi Ridaelv. Sen- ater Geie has alwajs Insisted that the chief difficult v in the life of a blind man is the attitude of commission some peisens direct tnwnrd blunfness, and net the blindness itM'If ine senator s success, tee, was In IgH IlltMsllle due te till- ns.iwlmi..,, lilt. w'ie ms (rum him. He married in 1000, ami his wife has been his con cen I'Hnt guide anil companion eet since. His wife was Miss Mina Kay. ap pointed te be his guide for a day during a political tally In a small Teuin town. And she has continued te be his guide, win kin,; Mcndllj ,as hi amanuensis, reader nnd adviser At Rchobeth Mr. Ridgely Is looked upon with awe and wuerntlen. The neighbors f this silent man seem te knew- little about him They are Im pressed, however by the sight of him breasting the breakers uen t Knew much about- him." house nnd the furnishing of its rooms Ml1'1 ". nuthe who wis asked te neinr can be detected the touch of a band i'.'i, , 1dgel home b the sea. or taste. .Mrs uidgch s -aste i cer- ... '" Mm (""s i"e tin 'spoiie-man- feet and a half and three feet, respec I uveiv. . In one of these cabinets are packed I nnd they are packed se tight It Is a 1 difficult matter te insert one's finger between the sheets of record paper the cases nt lnw concluded during Mr. Ridgely's career te date and, in tin majority of Instances, w-en. In the ether are packed equally tightly the cases pending or te he worked upon Knch cabinet is full from ten te bet- lem. juer, ucriums niore tlian any Yerk 'And the people wait for a -or better, spokesmen, who tnfnly evident In the home nt Rchobeth by the sea, the exterior of which scarcely gives piemlse of the beauties nnd the comforts within. 'u sid, u is only a duplicate of hundreds of Ira me houses one sees near the sea punted green, and rather weather-beaten within it seems te have gntliertd all the sunshine of inanv a da . The crctenned windows, which draw the light generously into the rooms, tin cunningly built wall seats and th writing table extending out of one cor cer ner of the living room, indicate the direction of a woman net only et taste, but of liiiagiiuitien. "Henrj , and 1, tee, having leBt en? pointer sjstem just as Henry did." snid Henry R. Jehnsen in his home just ncress The Green, "but I couldn't make much of it. He did. He knows nil the sj stems." A hasty glnnee nt Mr. Ridgely's library revealed in Braille copies of "Kndymien," the Odes of Herace, the Apocrypha, the Bible. Most of these books are ebtnined from KnglMi pub lishers, nnd the four mentioned only (suggest the t.pe and variety of the nnn his Kltnr. unm ,.., 1.1 Mr Ridgely said' " "'" "If ou an- going te slop ever at Heier. don't teiget te see Geerge fisher lies m. assistant nnd have hi .ii take uni out te that farm of mliie. ou 1 erijnj it. It Isn't a little faun, and the peaches are tine. Just usk him te cet m,u a basket of peaches and tukt them nlung with you " ".s, de," urged M,v Ridgely. And the last view of tin- lemarkuble pair revealed them as n. st,i at (, rear perch . t,e tngeth. r afle. tienutc m s Ri ig,.ii ,,,,11 almost giilish in liguie, a smile of fan well lighting up he. tace Mi R g, ,, ,lluki rntUe'r ;run win lug a slender right band. thing else that might be said, measure volumes Mr. Ridgely uses .ur. luugci) ministry nna his sue , Tl Mr. and .Mrs. Ridgely en the steps of their seailde cettage ndvnntage of his eje.sight, and for a ceuslderabln time dining hh early career as lawjer. In lhfK'I be was mnirled, About twenty .M'ars age un Inherited impel feclinn in his ylswn be caimi manifest, nnd mere and meie disturbing, until ten or fifteen ears age he had lest virtually all use of Ills eyes. , "If nu want te knew my business, I biippose jeu might say I am especially Interested in banking, ngrlcultuie and lnw. A general practitioner In aw with n penchant for equity practices,' he observed. , "And If jeu want te knew his re creation." Interrupted his wife, "they mnn, though there are times when he rtlnxea. Leves a Geed Nevel but Only en Vacation "lltirlni? inv Micatlen here I most of in time but hint: mid leading. he explained. "I am fend of a geed novel dining vacatien: but, altogether, 1 prefer something shall I, my heavier." "He likes heller a book that he can get his teeth in," contributed Mrs. Ridgely. "WIie,n I am home lir Deycr I nre much iffder," he 'resumed. "I start wer fcertunatcly', an seen e I.wnkt cess. Heme a Paradise of Comfert and Taste The back of his home leads into a ' 1. in. nm .Inn ir millLiinl A...... ,Ml. KfllK huhiii .. uiiiieimi llisiu. lilt dining room gives out en a perch where Mr., and Mrs, Ridgely are accustomed ti breakfnst In the warm weather. An ancient box-weed tree shudews the table. A pathway, under great trees, and Hanked by beautiful shrubbeiy and flowers, points straight as an nr'iew te a chattering little fountain-peel. Geld fish swim about lazily among the lilies. I Te the left of the peel is a tenheus", ' set ceiled and embowered In foliage, In , (he cool of the evening Mr. mid Mr.-. ...,.i H'dgely sit here te watch the everlasting spurn i stars. When the moon Is hlnh. hl nmlrn is n garden of fnery, rich In shadows nnd soft moen-sllvcr. The atmesphere of the entire house and, Indeed, of th Green in front of it, where rise, ancient trees nnd the bcuuly of Colonial houses, whispers of quiet, ghostly, periwigged gentlemen and the soft loveliness of Drecnue anu ince, out of a Revolution- ary past, rich in dreams. I digest. There Is nPtfuestlen that rf ' t?J"rt,K i,,Bt,!l,ul Pr"5' foremost lwy?fn the Stute. he larger part of his reading is done tiy his wife, 'they read novels together, ns well as books en economics, political problems, p) etiology and law "Recently." said Mr. Ridgclv. "I have rend Willinm .lames' lectures en 'Pragmatism,' the Secrntlc dialogues, Siilntsbury's book en literary criticism, ' i and he named a long list of classic- as well ns recent issues. "And I like n geed detective story " , "He lead a book the ether dny, n biography," snid Mrs. Rldgelj "It wus as thrilling as a movie scenario " The enthusiasm in her voice disclosed the enjoyment Mrs. Ridgely gets out of this co-operative perusal of their splendid library. "A book has a very strong Influence nn me," said Mr. Riik'ely. "The book I like 1 like very much." There wns an intimation in what he snid of what the neighbors in Dever sny nbeut him: that hu never forgets anything. I "He has nn extraerdlnnry memory." snid Chief Justice James I'eiiniwell. "In the courtroom he is denied the usual jottings made by attorneys. But he holds the ease clearly before him nn though he nvere wading R out et a he U HVi." .4 . -&. -XUt : j.'Sj hm kx.vt ssa .vi KuZA r?rrriSRasw! &r??im,tW'rn V'SEWI Ui9S af?.1y tFmr .- it w rSi JiW . -"SlBil rt. e arttAuiiUi' .i'xji af&S-Si-'i''' -E3B . JSfSd HBi aiui yn h Ess .nsr.!. x wm nm Bss& imimtmMi Z2Sx!MaYlZi . .. . ; ". . -x vi . P&&&tHife-i:- l&M'&VtiB&J'' SSSit .?3giraa3ss :f..:ViXii 'k: b,'';.y4 mm Mmmsm'&sMslss'mWlmiBD Bmr, tttvwwttjAifMvnimitvrmammamm-tvrv ; -t m tmtmvmm . wmt x t 11 ' " Hi.teaH t 5?W,f. ? R,lBp DTr,tUti fwamneanaBK m ami M m KHttl 1I m m m) w St? m wai i- m I ij' 1 m M u t- .11 ... HiJ V7. A Jl ft 'i i- T s-r ' v ' ' UM M-fMhlMMd'ausi.. - ' ' ' ' Jf -.. 'JM irWi
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers