The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-30

ingS as teacher and continued at the
har Tor ten years, TIL 1870 in Buchan-
an and afterwards in Charlottesville. 10
Is said that no extraordinary success at
tended his career as an attorn y. But MS
wide learning IN the law, his robust In
tcllgcnce. and his powers of clear expo
a.tou attracted attention, and led 10 his
appointment IN 1874 10 the char in the
University OF Virginia. vacated by the
resignation OF Henry st. George Tucker
a comparison OF the courses OF study in
law offered by Professor Minor with those
given by his predecessors shows at once
OF his old teacher Professor Davis,
rather than descendant OF the
more brilliant but errauc Tucker.
Prof, ssor fuckers interests manifest
- centred I'm the then burning qucs-
tons Of government and constitu-
ti0nal law. anu his course took color from
this fact. Under Professor Minor there
was an Immediate return 10 the strict
line OF professional training pursued hy
Davis. The Law Society" conducted by
this professor was rrOrganizcd as the
''Moot Court and even hts announce
ments published ia the annual catalogues
Were reproduced With conscientious ac-
CIracy, down 10 the array of textbooks,
of which but one or two We're changed.
BIS FIELD or LABOR DIVIDED.
No variation IN these announcements is
made until 1AI. "whea the Board of Wis
itors. anxious TO enlarge the sphere OF
legal instruction. appoint James l.. Iol-
cOmbc TO be Adjunct Professor of Law.
The number OF classes IS increased from
two TO three. of which the intermediate
and senior cover more fully the ground
occupied by the old senior. Three years
la'er In 1871 Holcombc is promoted TO be
fun professor. ana ia 1886. the course Is
again expanded into two departments
each of TWO classes-a form preserved
Until the very recent notifications, intro
ducCd under the influences of newer
time.
Those who have known Professor Minor
and observed his dircctncss of aim. de-
nnliencss OF purpose. ana rcrtnacity OF
conviction. VIII MOI doubt that these sue
ccssiVe engagements o. the course mark
as many epochs IN the growth Of his
learning IN the law. and his teaching DOW
err and were due IN the main 10 his militia
tive.
Abundant in labors. above most of a
rarely laboriCus faculty. endowed by ma
ture. with q sound and discriminating
judgment. aud retcnuve memory. he
lccaine. year by year. more widely read
m professional literature, more deeply inn
Drcl With the great principles Of 1glis-
prudence. and more familiar with the
q, tails of judicial decisions As his
learning grew more copious. even his in
crcasing skill IN exposition and instruc-
ton proved unable TO confiLe the matter.
which he desired TO pre- mt. within the
narrow bounds o.. the lecture prOeramme.
II became necessary 20 call for division
VI IiN btil vi ldbpi, IN OlNtf lAdi ne
misht more thoro Ighly subduc the por-
ton left under his hands.
ELEVATION or THE STANDARD.
IN one other paricular the records re-
veal return 10y Professor minor TO the
traditions OF his old teacher Under Pro-
isssor fuckers administration OSii-1oi5).
the stanarus OF examination had been un-
reasonably lowered. The proportion of
graduates 10 the total number OF law
students had risen from IL per cent. under
Davis 10 o. per cent. under Tucker. Min
or Immediately restored the traditional
severity OF the standard and with "A gain
not only In sound scholarship. but In at
ter lance. The rGmber OF matriculatcs in
law grew steadily with th, growth Of the
University, aNcrag ne about 20 per cent
OF the whole attendance mp 10 the year
OF the Civ.l War. As the courses were
expanded. the proportion OF graduates
grew less ana less. becoming often ridicu-
lousy small But the numbers attend
ing the law cchool seem to have been lit
lie affected by the severe cNactiOns re-
quired from those. who attained It's hon
ors. Three graduates out OF 81 or I'VE
out OF 49, would daurt the courage Of
our modern aspiran,s for the H. L. de-
gree.
MINORS INSTITUTES.
An the ma;erla, collected by Professor
Minor for the Illustration and enforce
Ioept of his teachings began 10 accu-
rnuiate on his hands, the need for its
systematic arrangement ana presentation