The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-20
NORFOLK LOCAL NEWS
THE LATE r. x. SMITH.
A Kieaatirai Tribute to His Character
and Life.

A neautirGl Tribute to litn Cha ratter
and Life.
The Georgetown College Journal OF
May contains q beautiful tribute to the
character and life OF the late Peter
Xavier Smith. alluding to this season Of
the year when the country calls the now
ers ofSnature and the phrases OF art as
tribute to It's patriotic dead. 1t re-
marks that THE Journal and indeed
Alma Mater, owes wreath Of this tex
cure TO the name of p. X. Smith. and
says that 1t herewith deposits 1t with a
sense of inadequaes. but OF fondest ad-
miration for the deceased aluinnus and
Of deeper sympathy for his hardly con-
solabie friends. He Is surely worthy OF
II. since In addition TO the high record
of merit he has left with US at college,
the bars OF Norfolk, Portsmouth and
Noriolk county, Va. could prefix TO their
resolutions OF sympathy a remarkable
encomlun. the first sentence of which
ale: Monday. February 3, 1896. at IL
o'clock a. M, Peter Xavier Smith, an
honored and respected member of this
bar. died at his. home, on Freemason
street. in the city OF Norfolk. at the age
Of 80 years. In the flush or young man
hood and the promise of an honorab BILE
and useful future, death has ended a
life marked by high resolve, earnest en-
deavor. conscientious discharge Of obli-
CATION, honesty and sobrlety, and adorn-
ed and beautied by the graces and vir-
tues OF the Christian religion
1T was his fortune to be the son Of
parents not only devoted to their chill
tent OF rating a complete education
among their primary duties. According
ly. he was fist a graduate OF st. Johns
Academy Norfolk. the city of his birth
and death, where his Latin studies were
directed by the venerable Father NJ.
OKeefe. His delicate health experienced
the benefit of stay In Europe which,
young boy as he was. he made with
singular self-reliance. He reached
Georgetown College in 1878 for special
grammar. or freshman. with men like
William l.. Mclaughlin. Dakota; VIII
liam j. Waguespack, Louisiana, and AID.
am Clarke Wright, Georgia.
A member of the class of 'S2. his acad-
emic efforts were crowned with the Con-
medal in philosophy and the prize In
Christian doctrine. What greater lau-
rels could he have borne Of? They ale
In themselves q panegyric OF the model
student. The augury OF the Christian
professional man is easy from such ante
cedents. Alas! they are also recollec-
tons that give another pressure to the
keen edge of grief and regret felt by his
friends. fellow students and old pro-
fessors. that there should not have been
space for their full accomplishment
The Georgetown College graduate
studied law at the Georgetown Univer-
sity for two years arll took several
prizes. On his return to Norfolk he
entered the office OF the Clerk of the
Court, and before long became Deputy.
He continued TO be a close student, and
In the year 1888 opened an Office OF his
own,to which his abilities and sterling
character attracted more business than
his health and the closely economical
hours of day and night could AFFORD
AS might have been expected of one
n rpp lat n H.
not that he lacked an element of TO-
mance-the friend of his dearest sister.
inseparables at the Visitation Convent.
Miss Edith NJ. Martin, the daughter of
Col. Martin, now of Silver City N. NJ,
became his choice for the lady OF his
house. his success had in part built
besides the paternal homestead. The
union marked his excellent Judgment,
as the four years OF their welded life
afforded constant evidence of his af-
fectionate heart. His two pretty or
phans are as yet incapable OF feeling the
loss they have sustained, although in
after days the story OF their fathers life
and the traits of his loving and beautifuI
character will be some sad compensa-
ton.
1t was into THE sweet and happy har-
monies OF two Christian homes that the
note of most poignant farewell was in
troduced. The young husband was
stricken down the victim of q relapse of
pneumonia. All his dear ones had the
mournful consolation of being penetrate ted
with the sense that his end was happy
and that he was fully resigned to the
mysterious will that served the sum
mons. The hand OF death, ruthless and
relentless In the main. was tenderly con-
siderate OF him as he hay in his casket
His features, which We're marvelously
placid, showed none of the inroads of
disease, and the flush of color which
his schbolmates so well remember
mantled his cheeks. Rather was It love
for his own and truth to himself that
wrote the legend of his serene soul
on the peaceful, cloudless countenance.