The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-04

DIR. WILLIAM r. PALMER.
however. and his death was daily OK
pocted. Such was the strength OF MS
constitution and the power OF his VIII
that day after day crcpt by, and BIS
spirit stn fingered on the line which
divides life from death. as though re-
luctant to pass over.
Yesterday morning the final change be-
gan and he swiftly sank until Just be-
fore tho shades Of night fell upon the
city his pure and noble soul took ITS
fight to a land where there Is 10 night.
HIS CAREER.
William Price Palmer. son of Charles
Palmer and Allss Lewis, was born on
the 18th day of August 1871, IN the ora
dwelling at the corner Of Madison ana
Franklin streets. then owned ana Oc-
cupied by his groat-uncle by marriage,
Maj)r William Price. This house was
then the western limit of the city, with
the single exception OF the old Bullock
mansion. which stood where the Com
monwealth Club now stands.
DR.. Palmcr's education was commenced
when he was very young at the school
of DR.. Berkeley. IN Hanover county,
where he remained three or four years.
From this school ne went to a celebrated
grammar school in New York, where he
pursued his Studies until he entered the
University of Virginia about 1898 or 80,
where he took the academic course.
MEDICAL PROFESSION SELECTED.
His father, as iinst tho strong protest
OF the son. selected the profession Of
edicine. which he adopted
He graduated in medicine at the Uni
Sersity OF Pennsylvania about the year
Isii and finished his medical training at
hospital in PaltimCre. and, although
ne prscticed his profession in this city
and on the Danville railroad as long az
his father lived 10 exert his influence
over him. h. abandoned IL as soon as
that influence was removed.
Or. Palmer was man OF strong liter
Any bias. r. passionate student of the
old English classics. with antiquarian
propensitcs. which led him 10 study thor
oughly all the interesting epochs of the
history OF The State OF Virginia. and this
knowledge made him an invaluable
member OF the Virginia Historical So
ciety
The first article that he wrote con-
cerl.os the Commonwealth was on the
Virginia State Navy ring the Revolu-
ton. II attracted widespread aIten-
ton an prompted han T. write many
other articles on kindred subjects.
These Articles c>C.ted % profound an
intsrrs, that The Virginia Legislature Sc
publication the vast mass OF manu-
scriJ. wfiCh lay an CnCst the dust on
The shelves OF the state Capitol Thess
data he brought tCpethCr in five folio
volumes fun of matters of great interest
10 the State. between the years OF 1862
and ISL. These volumes he prefaced by
an inroductiOn Of scVenty-one pages.
which intro.H elton Is iiil - the anti
quarian taste so characteristic Of the
man. Before completing tie fiih volume
DR.. Palmer's health failed. and the rest
OF the work was done hy Mr.. Sherwin
EcRae.
LED 4 SINGLE LIFE
Or. Palmer never married. hut his So
cial and attractive qualities gave him
Wide circle of friends. Who always
greeted him With enthuJasm. for where
ms c"mpainonship was there taste ana
refinement rGtVsled. ale vlll he great
~ miHssi lV hundreds OF friends who
not on'' estct him fcr his line mem
tai IA lmenis and his strong moral
Qualities. nut loved hil fer his splen-
oil social piis
BY the death OF this estimable gentle
man If severed another link OF the per-
sonal chain connecting our time with the
social and political lifc OF Richmond in
the days before the war For his many
friends of The older generation. to whom
his personal and social qualities had 80
long endearcd him. the tidings OF his
passing away VIII awaken a sense OF
grief for The loss of q valued companion.
whose genial presence ana talk have
frightened many an hour OF social CON
verse.
With 4 mind informed by study. travel.
and p large and varied experience his
disposition and tastes yet kept him In
the more secluded walks OF private life.
While thus best known IN social circles.
OF importance and value. and such as 10
deserve recognition.
MS MILITARY LIFE.
A. an original member Of the Howit-
gers. ne served with them during the
John Brown raid. and AZ the reOrganiza-
ton of the command. at the outbreak of
the war. he was elected lieutenant OF the
FIRST company. with which he left Rich
mond for the field. During their active
service he held FOR some time the com
n,and OF the company a. its captain
Ills health failing. he subsequently
served during the war In the line Of his
profession. as surgeon at Camp Lee and
other posts I'm and about Richmond.
More important than these military ser
vices and more congenial to his tastes
and disposition, have been his contribu-
tions 70 and work on the history OF the
state. As the original compiler and edi-
tor OF the Calendar OF State Papers"
ne commenced a work whose completion
would be OF great value aud advantage to
the Commonwealth. I'm rescuing from OBJ
l.yion such archives as deserve preserya-
tom.
Besides this public work now fortu-
rately preserved in book form. Or
Pslmer's valuable contributions 10 The
Times hevo been OF intense interest in
the cause OF historic truth: and II is TO
DO hoped that they may be collected. and
with other papers left by him. find publ
cation In book form Such would be
the best memorial OF man who always
0eok 9 lively interes, Ia everything bear