Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-10-27
7 + Il NJ S:
The Iaie ElicOdOric IL. Pryor.

The death Of this remarkable and brilliant
young man Is not merely loss to his family
and those who knew him, but to the nation.
lie possessed extraordinary qualities OF mind
and character. He was born in Charlottesville,
Virginia, July ;. 1881. His father was Roger
\. Pryor. the celebrated Southern leader, well
known as Il urmhcr of the United States Con-
rrr>S before the war, OF the Confederate Con-
rrcS<, and Il general in the Confederate army.
The result of the war was persona! disaster to
General Pryor, as it had been to nearly every
one who took Il conspicuous part IN the rebellion.
When Ice surrendered General Pryor came to
New York ty,abandoncd public life, and gave
himself tu the practice ot the law.
Young men were dcbarrcd to young Pryor, be
carl>c of the war, and postponed his formal en-
trance upon the studies necessary Tor his ad-
mission to college.
From this time his career at college was 4
phcnnncnon and may be regarded as almost
historical. lie passed ut once to the head OF
his class As one of his class mates who rank
cd next to him in hOnorS said, Il had compctl-
turS-l'ryor had meme No one thought Of dis.
ruting his leadership" He led the class in
every study, although one Of its youngest mem
hrrs. His favnrite studies were mathematics
am! metaphysics lie loved to dwell in the
highest ranges of mathematical problems, and
concern his mind with questions that the rip
est OF our scholars had not ventured to reach.
All metaphysical subjects had Il deep interest
for him, especially what We may call the me-
taphysics of theology. lie had strong rcll-
gouS tendencies and the impression was. when
at Princeton, that he would enter the ministry.
When he came to graduate, it was hard to
find a parallel for his standing. For hundred
boj ctr cn hph
one who came nearest to hint student whose
college life is also historlc-was Aaron Burr,
who graduated just q hundred years ago. The
highest average mark i'll the college Is 100.
Young Pryor. average Wa. 99.9.
His intention when he left college was to en-
ter the ministry. Finally, he ncluded to be-
come lawyer. At the time Of his death, ho
was pursuing his studies at the law, school,
where his pre-emincnce was as marked Us 1t
had been at Princeton and Cambridge.
As we have said, his mind was metaphysical
and mathematical. All the great and mysteri-
Gus problems of life-fate, destiny, mind, mat
ter, the will-had been familiar to him. He
grapplcd with them ALL His reading took the
highest range. He was greedy: profound,
persistent, avaricious student Of gentle, win.
hours for study were invaded. His favorite au-
thors were the highest classics He read Oar
win, and abandoned him as unsound He saw
merit in Leckey, but thought he ampli6ed
ncedlessly aud sacrificed too much to rhetoric.
lis tavorite among modern writer's was John
Stuart Mill His criticism upon Blackstone
when he began the study Of law was that his
command of English was perfect and his style
/; charm, but that his logic was frequently un-
sound This criticism has often been made by
the soundest and gravest lawyers.
Shortly before his death signs of mental
WEAKNESS were seen and many symptoms of an
overtaxcd mind-disregarded then by friend
and associate, but ali too keenly and sadly re-
mcmbercd now. On Sunday morning, the 18th
of October, he arose rather late. lie sat over
the fire iu shiver, as though he had chill.
lie complained of a headache, and his face was
istless, now and then sinking into a reverie
unusual to him. At dinner he rallied, and dis
ousscd with his father the merits of Il scene in
'rhc Rivals, rs compared with a chapter IN
"Pipkwick," quoting both from memory. lie
remained at home most of the day, in the even
ing going with his mother to Dr. Van Dykes
church. On his return he went into the library,
and opening Shakespeare, read Julius Caesar
always favorite play When he closed the
volume, the paper knife showed that he had
reached the third act Abut halfpast he
said to his mother, 81 feel very warm; | shall
take a little walk and cool Off He was never
seen alive attcrward lay any one who knew him.
So has passed away one of the gentleSt,
kindcSt, nubcst young men that have come to
lis in these latter generations. Such death,
rs We have said. is not merely loss to his
family and Il SORROW to his friends, but Il loss
tc the Republic, to whom young men gifted
with the genius aud character Of Pryor are pre-
ciuliS But the highest consolation IN 1t all Is
that which we have 50 often received from the
words of poor Dorgan whose genius was as
high and his life as brief and mournt'ul as that
of Keats and Shelley
Until my task is done, cannot die,