Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-16
IN MEMORY OF PETER |. COOPER, JR.
Remarks of John II. Rodney and l.. Irving
Handy Before Superior Court.


ISOLATION resolutions on Peter l., Cooper,
Jr., John II, Rodney said in part;
Prepar ng himself by strenuous
effort, he entered upon the battle of
life with high hopes and Astounding
courage, and by industry and intelli
gence he laid broad and strong
foundation upon which VS. may. with
certainty say, would have been built
we'll rounded life, creiitable to his
chosen profession and comfort ana
pleasure to all, illustrating the highest
qualities of head and heart The hard
of tins, merofully efiaces the first
sense of loss aud bereavement, but
memory cherishes the higher qualities
and pleasing characters Of our lost
ones Su h d life as that of our own
deceased friend should not hsye been
lived in vain, nor should the death of
such an one go unrecurded,
l., Irving Handy said:
= n secOnding the proposition OF the
distinguished gentleman, who, as chair
man OF this committee, has presented
tho resolutions of the Bar Association,
| beg the Indulgence of the court while
| say word or two in appreciation OF
the character and attachments OF our
deceased friend, Ny acquaintance with
Peter Il. Cooper, Jr. dates from the
period when he was echcol teacher,
teaching little country school in Kent
county near the town OF Dover At the
time was superintendent of the schUols
in that county and SO was brought into
contact with him. My memory is very
disiinot Of the fair hal ed youth in the
little one-room sehoul house hearing
the recitations Of SCOTS of count y
| boys and girls of various sizes. La or,
when ! resigned my Office, Mr.. Cooper
| was appointed superintendent TO fill out
| the eight months of my une&pired term.
! lie was then completing his studies and
getting ready for his entrance eAamina-
tion for the practice of law.
lie gave me at thar period OF his
| life tho impress on that he was IN
average young man-one who might
! hope to take respectable station in
| the world He betrayed few indications
OF the power and capacity which SC
SOON thereafter distinguished him and
made him much more thun an average
man.
Coming 10 this city 10 establish
himself in his profession, he starts q
with little acquaintance and with Mt
apparent influence whereby to com
!
| advantages as he had were beneath his
| hat and buttoned up within his owr
coat. But those advantages proved sui
| tioient.
'.It ia not my purpose to sketch hi
| professional career and to tell OF his
rapid rise to position where be carl,
commanded the attention and con
tidence of Judges and juries, the ad
mratiou and good will of fellow mem
Eers OF the bar, and generally thu soot
opinion Of the community and State
The Incidents Of his careerall tot
brief ARE entirely familiar In tn
presence. He demonstrated the ros
session of undhunted intellectual cour
age. He was an aggressive, self-relian
thinker. lie was a swift and yet pains
taking worker. ln every forensic contes
he came well prepared and fought
good fight. None knew his furoe bette
or appreciated it higher than In
able lawyers who measured themsslye
against him. With his intellectual abii
ties, he coupled apotless personal in
tegrity and an admirable sense of pro
fessional courtesy.
"Conscious Of his own capacity an
merit, he was amhitious and he ha
successfully laid the foundations o
which it was reasonable Tor his friend
to Anticipate that his ambitions woul
be largely gratfied, 1t is my ow
opinion that Peter L, Cooper, Jr,
length of days had been granted unit
him, would have gone far in the rae
which the strung aud ambitious ruu
He had it in him TO reach high honor
J ard wide reputation But long lf
: and the full fruition of his hopes wei
, not for him.
: Those Of us who knew him will NJ
forget him, and in the halls of memor
) we drape his figure W tn the tapestr
OF inexpressihle psthos. He accom-
plished much, but he had the will an
| oaERoIty to accomplish much mnr,
! His life seems TO me like story bt
half told, strain Of music interrupted
{ picture painted ny masters han
! yet left unfinished.
. Hut it is not our part to sigh ovt
4 what might have been, IL is ratht
! our purpose to accept and cherish an
! hold in grateful memory what actual
t was, And in that behalf the Bar ASS
+ citation has prepared these resolution
which we have brought here to the bi
t OF the court. ~