The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-17
H. A. FOUSHEE ON
JUDGE MANNING
Portrait Presented to Law
School of the University.
RECEIVED BY SEN.LONDON
Mr.. foushee Tells of the Man, Oie Of Ma.
lures NobIeman, Hs Bore Without
Reproach the Grad Old Name
Of Gentleman"
Especial to News and Observer)

Chapel Hill, N. c., April 16.-Tonight,
in the presence of a large crowd occurred
the presentation to the Law School of the
University of a portrait of the late Hon
John Manning, practically the founder
and for number OF years the head of
that department of the University. The
portrait is the gift of Mr.. James s. Man
ming, son of Judge Manning
Hon. Howard A. Foushee, of Durham,
made the presentation speech. He was
an old pupil of Judge Manning and his
speech was a magnificent one. Hon
Henry A. London, of Pittsboro, another
old student of the Judges, gracefully &C
cepted ii in behalf of the University. The
portrait viii be placed in the lecture
room of the Law Department.
The following are a few extracts from
the speech of Mr. FOushee which tell
what manner of man it was that taught
so many of our leading lawyers today:
In the year 1881, the trustees without
his knowledge, elected him Professor of
Law. The State had not recovered from
the four years of civil strife and the
attendance at the University was small
and it's future uncertain.
DIT. Manning was then at the height
Of his fame as a practitioner enjoying fer
North Carolina a large income and Just
~ regarded as one of the ablest lawyers
in the State Had he desired wealth. the
way was open to move to a large city
and enter upon most lucrative practice
He was thoroughly in touch with the
dominant political party of the State.
and he could have gone on the bench or
accepted a seat in the Governors coun-
Gil
ut meant something to lay aside these
bright prospects and accept a professor
ship under such conditions. His friends
advised against it, but he felt within him
that divine call and he took up the
burden of teaching-to him always a
plcasure-nevermore to lay it down until
he answered, 'Ad sum to the roll call
of the Master.
well do | remember the first time
ever saw him. He was sitting in his
lecture room, his class before him. Not
very tall man, 5 feet inches in
height, and his weight about 1856 pounds.
Not SO large as / had expected. There
he sat, clean shayen, cellar cut features,
steel blue eyes, heavy jaws, a high fore
head, broad shoulders and snowy white
hair There was about him an indescrib-
able air that would have caused him
to be noticed in any crowd. AS he
talked he grew upon you. He seemed TO
increase in statue. He took possession
of your faculties He compelled your at
tention. He impressed his thoughts upon
you, and you felt that you were in the
presence of a great master. His facial
expression was kind and instantly in
spired the beholder with confidence. He
was easy to get acquainted with his
sympathies were broad. He was inten-
sely human. He loved his fellow men
Everything that concerned mankind was
interesting to him. With him. "a man
was man for all that For him. gold
could not gid the forehead of a fold
nor could he bend the pregnant knee
that thrift might follow fawning He
was as sturdy as an oak. as firm as d
rock; absolutely independent; as courage
ly as a lion.
His mind was wonderfully clear He
knew what he knew and he was especially
fortunate in finding language to make
his meaning plain. Abstract principles
he would illustrate by cases drawn from
the books, and from his own varied ex-
perience at the bar. He was a man of
infinite jest-always saw the humorous
side and the abstruseness of his lectures
was relieved by laughter. He never told
story save to illustrate a point and
many student carried away from his
lecture room, the law point solely, be-
cause he had seen it through the story.
cit was not so much what he said, nor
the way he said it, but it was the man
behind the words. Himself absolutely
honest and incerruptible. He believed
with all his heart and soul that the law
was the great profession, that a man
could do nothing nobler than to spend
his life seeking to enforce right. and
prevent wrongs; that none should enter
the order, save those with clean hearts
that once entered, only those should re-
main whose lives were blameless. To
him the law was calling ancient and
honorable, not to be entered upon for
the mere purpose of making money. He
deprecated the commercial spirit which
has invaded the ranks of so many of the
northern cities. In his view, the law
yer owed to his client a duty sacred
and inviolable He owed a solemn duty
to society.
His home life was beautiful. He was
model husband and a kind father. He
loved his children and they were devoted
to him. To see him at his best was To
see him at his home. His house was al
ways noted for its hospitality nc
dearly loved to entertain, and as host
he was unsurpassed. 1t was his custom
to invite each class to his home just be-
fore they left for the Supreme court.
These occasions were eagerly looked for
ward to and no student will ever forget
how delightful they were. AS a recon
teur, | have never known his superior,
and the rich treasurers OF his mind-anc
they seemed inexhaustible-were always
drawn upon to the fullest extent on
these occasions.
Noble as his life was, still nobler was