Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 07.pdf/438

 The

Vol. VII.

No. 9.

.

Green

BOSTON.

Bag.

September, 1895.

JOHN BARBEE MINOR, Professor of Common and Statute Law, 1845- 1895, Un1vers1ty of V1rg1n1a. By Thomas J. M1ch1e. IN the early summer of the present year, the writer of this article, an alumnus of the University of Virginia, and an admiring pupil of John Barbee Minor, was visiting rel atives in the typical Virginia college town of Charlottesville. The great event of the college world, and indeed of the town life, was then in progress — the finals, perhaps better known to Northern readers as the commencement. The chief feature of this celebration, and by far the most interesting to the great number of busy men of the world, lawyers, politicians and men of af fairs, who have during the last fifty years, at one session or another sat under John B. Minor, was the unveiling of a bust of him by the distinguished Virginia artist Valentine, author of the fine recumbent figure of Lee at Lexington. The ceremony of unveiling took place in the public hall of the Univer sity, on Wednesday, June 12. The large hall was filled to overflowing. The veil was lifted by James B. Green, chairman of the Minor bust committee. Mr. Green is blind, and after a few appropriate remarks, as he lifted the veil he said : " Thou art unveiled to all but me; but a niche in my heart is filled by thee." Mr. Thornton, chairman of the faculty of the University, then accepted the bust, on behalf of the visitors of the University, the faculty, alumni and students, and introduced as the orator of the day, the senior senator of Virginia, John W. Daniel. Mr. Daniel is well known to the legal profession as the

author of " Daniel's Negotiable Instruments." Mr. Daniel's address was worthy of the oc casion, and I will perhaps have an opportu nity to quote from it in the course of this article. The bust was dedicated by the alumni of the Law School to the University, and has been placed in the library among other worthies of the institution, alumni, pro fessors and students, — Poe, Cabell, Grady, Jefferson, etc. The library is one of the chief features of the University, not so much as a valuable col lection of books, though the collection is good, numbering upwards of fifty thousand volumes, and embracing the libraries of Jef ferson, Madison, and Austin of Boston, but for its unique architectural features. It is situated at the top of the rotunda, the prin cipal building of the University, and, as the name implies, is circular, commanding, from its many windows, a beautiful view, uninter rupted in every direction. Upon one side, in the distance, can be seen Monticello, the home of Jefferson; on the other the Ragged Mountains, the scene of Poe's tales; and in front the famous lawns of the University. The walls of the room itself are, as has been said, decorated with portraits of professors, students and benefactors of the college. In this room the bust of Mr. Minor will stand, a testimonial to future generations of students, of the love, affection and admiration borne by his disciples for their great teacher. In common with all those who have been so fortunate as to have benefited by the teach to 1