Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 06.pdf/592

 IVm. Curtis Noyes, LL.D. Mr. Noyes was, however, prepared to leave mortality, although the summons was sudden. He had early in life united with the church of his ancestors; but his religion was of more than mere membership; he carried it into his every-day life and conduct without ever making a show or intrusion of his views. Faith was his great watchword; and when he moved his library into its new building, every one of his family and friends knew the significance of his purchasing and placing on the walls an important copy of "Palmer's Faith," that as a work of art is so widely known to the public through photographic copies of it. It was ever a rule with him in his profes sion to never accept a retainer in a case unless equitable considerations connected themselves with its treatment and result. Persuaded of the ethics of his retainer, he was happy in carrying out its behests. The career of Mr. Noyes offers a grand moral to all students of the law. First, to earnestly embrace legal pursuits as a high and honorable profession, and to so embrace it with heart and head; to accept as a stand

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ing motto of practice, rectus in curiam; to become thoroughly imbued with the princi ples of jurisprudence; to love the pursuit of justice for the purpose of rectifying the wrongs and abuses of society, and to make society better and happier through profes sional efforts; to keep utter faith with cli ents, adversaries, judges, and juries; to spare no labor in search after legal principles and precedents; to love books and the ever fresh pursuit of knowledge; to cultivate frankness and sincerity in all intercourses; to practice courtesy to everyone, and, with out ever impairing self-respect, to accord unto others due respect toward their feel ings and idiosyncrasies and rights; to culti vate good citizenship, and remember in practice those grand lines of advice from the poet Bryant, that were written and first chanted as a hymn to Death amid the Berkshire mountains : — — " Sustained and soothed By an unfaltering trust approach thy grave, Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."