Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-06-17

feeling and appropriate address from Col. Skin
ner, who was once law partner of Mr. Niche,

feeling and appropriate address from Col. Skin
ner, who was once law partner of Mr.. Niche,
were unanimously adopted:
Last night the sad tidings had reached some
of US that Thomas johnson Niche was dead
this morning our whole community mourn over
common calamity. Mems hearts stand still,
shocked by the suddenness of the blow, and
tremble with sorrow. But yesterday, he was in
our midst moving about in the discharge of his
customary duties-apparenty well in body
cheerful in spirits-he returned to his home in
the evening; he sought the repose which rest
gives after toll; when, suddenly, the great mes
senger came, and his spirit fed upward to God
who gave It'll Well may we stand, awe-strlcken,
| in the presence of such an event. We gather
around this death-scence with smitten hearts to
commune together, and to give utterance to our
| united sentiments A great man has fallen; few
men equalled him almost none excelled him
IN large attrl Dutes OF character; he was endowed
| with an intellect of rare power, quckness and
cOmprehenslveness of grasp; with faculty
ofiogical reasoning of almost terrific force; with
mental resources, IN the midst of intellectual
| of grand emotion, which impaired living energy
| to his words; with a singleness of devotion to
! the cause he espoused, never surpassed; with
| lofty sincerity and unquestioned conscientious
ness, which gave tone to all he said and did, with
| directness of aim and straight forwardness of
| action, never for moment warped by an artlfce,
| or diverted by device; with learning, which
| placed him in the front rank of his profession;
| ana WlLlal possessing as ne Q1Q tno uigueSL
| gifts of mind, and the noblest endowments of a
full-developed and vigorous emotional nature,
| he was clothed with a mOdesty which cast over
| the grand and. to some, seemingly rugged de-
velopments of his nature, charm of irresistible
| attractiveness; so that, in his palmy days, he
stood par inter parasitic equal of the great
men who were his peers-admired by allen
We'd by none; a tower of strength to the cause
| he defended and, at the same time, the object
| Of the profound respect of his professional adj
versares and of the earnest devotion and warm
affection of his friends and as years rolled on,
and SORROWS fell upon him, one after another
| passing his great nature through the furnace of
successive Affections, the gold of his character
grew brighter and purer, the dross of our COM
mon humanity in him was gradually consumed
or purged away-all his great powers of mind
and heart were more and more given up to God j;
| and, as he stood on the confines of time, IN his
seventy-seventh year, he had become like one Of
| the great ones of earth, who had come out of
| great tribulations and with the chastened SIM
plicty of achild, and the ten 1erness of woman,
at the same time with all the brave and vigorous
| attributes of a man, his character was ripened
| for eternity and he was made ready for his de-
| parture; and now, we believe he stands before
| the Savior in whom he trusted, to serve him IN
| the new life on which he has entered, with the
! noble faculties, which on earth, he devoted to
| duty and to God
To u.s. Of the profession, he was an object of pc
culiar veneration and love. None of as have
| any memories of him, except those connected
II,
frankness and Integrity in his practice, scorn of
all mere technical advantag es-especially when
opposed to the younger members of the profess
sion--courtesy. reverently and uniformly re-
spectful to the bench, and cordial and fraternal
to the bar; and cheerful geniality of temper and
sympathizing kindness in personal and social in
tercourse, which rendered him at all times, q
companion to be sought and friend to be trust
ed. He was the father of our bari We have
reverenoed him as true man and a heightened
lawyer; and now that he is gatheredto his faith
ers, we mourn over him as q father We there
fore unite in the following resolutions:
l. That the members of the Staunton bar have
heard of the sudden death of Thomas johnson
Michie-the hCnored head Of the profession in
this city-with feelings of profound sorrow, and
desire to record their respect, esteem and vener-
alton for him, as a lawyer, whose bright exam
pie shall be as light to guide them in the path
way of their profession as q citizen, whose loss
society will deeply deplore; as a man, who,
through long life, claiming no honors or pre-
ferment for himself. filed the minds of men with
admiration for his intellect and learning, and
with undoubting faith in his integrity and sim
cerity of character; and who had won for him.
self the warm devotion and earnest affection of
ALL as husband, father and friend, who walked
through life with loving hearts around him,
turning gratefully to him as the source of daily
benefactions and blessings; and as christian.
who trod with answering faith in the pathway
in which his Fathers walked, and which for
him shone brighter and brighter unto the per-
feet day.
2. That we unite in expressions Of heart felt
sympathy with his bereaved family in this their
great sorrow, and pray that the God whom he
served may be their Comforter.
3. That we will in body attend the funeral
of our friend, and will wear the usual badge of
mourning for thirty days.
4 That these resolutions be published in the
city papers and copy of the same be commu-
nicated to the family of our friend.
s. That TIE Judge of the Circuit Court of Au
gusta county, be respectfully requested to enter
of record, in his Court, the foregoing preamble
and resolutions.
At clock in the evening the Court met
again when Judge Sheffey read the preamble
and resolutions and moved the Court to have
them spread upon the records of the Circuit
Court. After the following remarks from Judge
Mclaughlin, he ordered the preamble and res
olutions to be entered by the Clerk:
The Court has heard with the deepest sensi-
bility the announcement Of the death of Thomas
J. Niche. But yesterday he was amongst US,
ready to discharge every duty. The announce
ment of his death to-day, strikingly shows what
shadows we are and what shadows we pursue.
In all the relations of life he was brave, pure.
faithful, tender and true. AS an advocate at
this bar for half century, he was fearless IN the
discharge of duty, and foreeful In the presenta-
ton Of his case, and on many occasions exhibit
ed transcendant ability. AS lawyer he was
deeply versed in the principles of his profession,
and In learning had scarcely an equal In the
Commonwealth. It was not his fortune to hold
many public positions of importance, but when
called upon as he was in the charita BILE institu
tions located here, he discharged the duties with
scrupulous fidelity.
The regard in which he was held by his friends
and associates, is fttingly expressed In the pro-
ceedings and resolutions of the bar, which are
ordered to be spread upon the records of this
Court.
Pne funeral services took place from the Epis-
copal Church. under the conduct of Mr.. w. Q.
Hullihen, at o'clock, and were attended by the
Masonic fraternity, of which Mr.. Niche was a
member, and large concourse of friends of the
deceased and citizens generally. The merchants
and others closed their houses as the funeral cor
tege passed along the streets, and resolutions of
sorrow and regret were passed by the young la
dies of the Virginia Female Institute, of which he
was trustee.
LECTURES TO MARRIED MEN-Some fool
has written book in England. and put it Gu
the market, Entitled Lectures to Married
Men" A poor benedict (?) exclaims: 'Heav-
en- save the mark Married men receive their
full share OF lectures already" Uoless the
ladies who have no earthly use for such book,
invest in it We predict it will have very limit