The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-10
In MEMORY OF r. B. DUNCAN.
The Tributes at the Marion County
Bar Association.

At a meeting of the Marion County Bar
Association held IN the Circuit Court room
yesterday morning in memory of Robert
B. Duncan, there was n very large attend
ance. A committee composed OF John b.
Elam Addison c. Harris, Daniel w. Howe.
George w. Spahr and Charles w. Smith
reported a memorial to the association,
which was adopted. The memorial sets out
the story of the life of Mr.. Duncan and
his characteristics in the more mature
years. 1t shows him to have been a man
with high regard for the opinions of all
others, but unbending in his own views
when once convinced that he was right.
There were a number of short addresses
made by members of the bar. General John
Coburn spoke OF his early acquaintance
with Mr.. Duncan. They had been friends
in the early years of the city. AS boy
General Coburn knew Mr.. Duncan, who
was then deputy county clerk. He re-
called the fact that Mr.. Duncan was al
ways a strict advocate Of morality on all
subjects. He never joined the other young
men when they were inclined TO sow wild
oats. General Coburn said that Mr.. Dun-
cans long experience in the county clerks
office made him especially fitted for the
pTdCtiCC OF PROBATE law, ana his manner Oh
making and holding friends brought him "a
large clientele when he left the clerks Of
flee to enter the practice OF law.
w. p. Fishback spoke N very high terms
of his acquaintance with Mr.. Duncan. He
recalled tie fact that Mr.. duncan was very
fond of harmless amusements and sports,
and often took day off to spend by the
side of a stream fishing. 1t was to this
fact, Mr.. Fishback thought. that Mr.. Dun
can owed many of his years of life. While
intensely partisan, Mr.. Fishback said, he
trs.s
Gratis. John L. Dye, Democrat, spoke Of
this fact also. He said that Mr.. Dupcan's
partisan opinions were never offered in a
manner to estrange him from his friends
in the opposite party.
Daniel W. Howe and Addison c. Harris
lived with Mr.. Duncan when here in their
youth attending the Northwestern Univer-
sity. They recalled many incidents that
showed the true man in Mr.. Duncan. John
A. Finch and w. A. Ketcham also spoke.
Among Other things Mr. Finch thi said;
to understand the life that was lived by
Robert Duncan in his earlier years. 1t is
possible this generation would shrink from
the universal hardships of that time. And
yet, given such a sturdy stock, such a
steadfast honor, such an open hand and
heart, as men of that time had, and it is
but logical that they should nave gone
about the routine of life with joyousness
and contented spirit that we of greater op-
portunity do not learn from our greater
abundance.
Mr.. Duncan went quietly about the work
of his life, doing all that he did well and
faithfully. He had the respect of all who
knew him, and when he passed from the
activities of life into the retirement of age
his old friends did not forget him. Now
that he has passed into the greater world
beyond, his friends remember mis- Unspotted
unspoilcd unsUllied life with reverence.
L was asked yesterday TO say a word al
this meeting. l went home and had re.
hearSed to me many of the incidents of the
early life of the man whose name is upon
our lips. and from whose experience we
can learn needed lesson. 1t is not a
time for many words; it is time rather for
reverent thought. j read Rley's Old Man
Ii is a picture in part of such a fife as that
of Robert Duncan:
Lo, Steadfast and serene,
In patient pause between
The seen and the unseen;
What gentle Zephyrs fan
Your silken silver hair,
And what diviner air
Breathes round you like prayer,
Old Man."
The funeral of Mr.. Duncan was held yes
terday afternoon.