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"Mr. Tucker in the debate styled Mr. Pettit his 'learned, and acute, and witty, and satirical friend,' and while he evidently felt the 'satire and sarcasm' (of his friend) when he was 'rubbing it in,' yet declared that he enjoyed it, 'because it came from a friendly and loving hand.'

"To any one not familiar with the proceedings, it will be an intellectual treat to read the "learned, acute and witty" speeches of Mr. Pettit, which exercised a powerful influence on the attitude of the bar with respect to "Law Reform."

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"The Richmond Dispatch, of July 13, 1901, thus described Mr. Pettit, as he appeared in the Constitutional Convention: "A man of striking appearance-indeed he looks as if he had stepped out of a novel, so stately are his manners, so full of character is his face. Mr. Pettit wears his straight gray hair quite long, while his clean cut features are set off by a short white mustache, which gives a firm set to his strong mouth. His figure is tall and straight, remarkably upright for a man of his years—and he is quite military in his bearing. The whitest of linen, whose snowy effect is accentuated by a black shoe string tie, sets off his appearance and adds dignity to a personality which, under no circumstances, could cause aught but respect.""

"One other feature connected with Mr. Pettit's personal appearance will ever be borne in remembrance by his older friends and acquaintances. When he was a young man, beaver or silk 'stove pipe' hats and standing collars were the fashion, which he adopted. Then the time came when these stylish articles of dress went out of fashion; but he never parted from them. Many a time did his children and friends amuse themselves in his presence, at this peculiarity, and he would join in the laughter, but continued to wear them, until, at length, they came into fashion again. This peculiarity with respect to his dress, which was always an example of neatness and dignity in that line, was but the cropping out of those conservative traits and characteristics which made truth, honor, generosity and integrity inseparable from his words and actions, and, with him, never went out of fashion."

This very striking appearance of Mr. Pettit, both in his person and dress, finds quaint proof in the fact (as he told this writer), that one day when he was in Richmond as a member of the Convention, a man in the crowded street came up to him, recognized him and spoke to him. This man had moved to Texas from Fluvanna County fifty years before and had never seen him since.

Considering that the commencement of Mr. Pettit's life was without extraneous help his achievement is a proud record. Yet it is true that it is the character of the man, rather than what he did, that leaves its impress upon his contemporaries. In association with the dignity of his person there seems inseparable the loftiest spirit of honor in his private and professional conduct; a contempt for meanness and frauds and yet a tongue without uncharitableness and that knew no slander; he was brave in adversity and modest in prosperity; loyal and true to friends, there was for them always a charm in his quiet and gentle manner; his very nature was generous and chivalrous and his patriotism knew no bounds. He was looked up to in his community as a model citizen. He took a lively interest in this Association and had for many of its members a warm friendship, and his pride in his profession was great; and when his death came there was widespread grief; a sorrow that was not confined to his family and friends, but which was participated in by the people of his county and section.

JACKSON GUY.

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WALTER BUCK RICHARDS.

The subject of this memorial was born at Riverside, the home of his parents, Major James R. Richards and Elizabeth M. Richards, in Warren County, Virginia, on June 24th, 1863, and after attending the public schools in the county, at the age of eighteen he entered the University of Virginia, where he was a student from 1881 to 1883. In 1883 he accepted a position as instructor of Mathematics at the Miller School, Albemarle County, Virginia, and in 1884 he returned to the University and the following year graduted with the degree of Master of Arts, and was awarded the Debater's Medal of the Jefferson Literary Society for excellence in debate. After graduation he was offered the position of Assistant in Greek and Latin in the University, but this offer he had to decline, as he had previously accepted a position at McCabe's University School, Petersburg, Virginia. Here he taught two years and in 1888 was offered and accepted the Professorship of Pure Mathematics in the School of Mines and Metallurgy, University of Missouri. This position he held for nine years, and in 1893 he was made director of the school. In September, 1897, he returned to his native home at Riverton, Virginia, and the summer of 1898 attended the Summer Law School at the University of Virginia.

After taking this course at the Law School, he stood the examination before the Supreme Court and was admitted to the practice of his profession that year, forming a partnership with the Hon. H. H. Downing to practice law in his native county, which partnership continued to his death. The law was his chosen profession, but circumstances which he could not control caused him to delay entering the practice earlier. But in the short time of six years in a small town, and one of the smallest counties in the State, he achieved an eminence that might well be the envy of many an older practitioner. Important legal business came to the firm of which he was a member from this and

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