The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-30

Win spirits OF Wilson and the nuInOr OF
the Shepherd"
1t IS more the pity if these eXtraordi
nary volumes are no longer read in this
age of unbroken scrbbling of trashy
novels many of which are unblushingly
naughty and immoral
That most giled North Carolinian per
haps-greatest advocate, superior orator
very able lawyer, most charming con
versatlonalist, the late George e. Badger
had excellent cultivation III literature in
some departments. He appreciated fully
the once so famous, and always admir-
able 'Noctes Ambrosianae, and l was
told long ago by one of his intimate
friends, the late Judge Robert B. Gil
ham, of Oxford, learned lawyer him
self, a first-rate alumnus of our fine Uni
verslty of North Carolina, and exceed
lngly well up in the field of letters with
certain limitations, that Mr.. Badger so
enjoyed the glorious "Noctes'' that he
read them through every year. That re-
mark had something to do probably in
directing me in youth to the volumes
which / read then with prime interest
and have cultivated their acquaintance
| more intimately since owned copy in
| five volumes, but lost them with the first
| library l ever owned. l have to put up
| now with selections in one volume. Chris
TOPPER North, as Prof. John Wilson, the
remarkable Scotchman, editor of Black
woods Magazine, called himself-his
| pen name-was an uncommon character
The 'EttrIck Shepherd as James Hogg,
| the Scotch poet, was called. is one of his
| characteristic best in fact John G..
Lockhart, SCOTS very gifted son-in-law,
| and author, was a contributor to Black
wood, and l belive had some hand in the
| "Noctes,' but of that | do not feel assur-
ed. Wilson published another series-not
equal to the very excellent ''Noctes
which he called dies BoriaIes,'' well
| worth reading by any real lover of let
| tiers. Wilson's volume of essays, sketches
| and tales is very entertaining. Let ME
| mention in this connection the number OF
we'll cultivated lawyers / knew prior to the
| war beyond their professional studies.
| Some of them were finely cultivated.
| have mentioned two of the best of them
above-Mr. Badger and Judge Gillian.
The latter's very learned partner, DR.
| Marcellus, V. Lanier of Oxford, who still
survives, aged about IS, l rejoice to know
| is par excellence the most strictly learned
| lawyer in all North Carolina. He is a
| Virglnian, was educated at the University
| Of Virginia, and came to oxford as a
| teacher about 1S41 | had the honor of
! going TO school to him. He read law with
Judge Gillian, and later became his part
ner until Judge GilIiam's much lamentcd
4 in I 10 n
remarkably learned man in the law, but
| is a master in several languages. The
| late Chief Justice Pearson, as | happen
| to know, said of him in 1876: IF there is
any more learned lawyer in North Caro-
| lima he does not appear before the Su-
preme Court" He reads his Hebrew Old
Testament, his Greek New Testament, is
Latin scholar, reads German Ike an
educated man of that race, has a library
of the German poets, has turned some of
the originals into English verse,
reads French, and suppose knows
something of Italian and Spanish.
He is a very consecrated Chris
tain-the most religious, conscientious
lawyer l ever know-and devout,
useful Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian
Church, and has been one for 1 suppose
quite half century or longer. He knows
others books, too and is a man of infor
nation, of reading, as well as superior
education. The University of North
Carolina honored itself when it bestowed
upon him the degree of LII. d. some eigh-
teen years ago perhaps. / may not doubt
that of all men it has thus honored he is
the most distinctly learned. Among others
OF the legal gentleman l knew, and some
intimately, who were up in bellies lettres
fairly well, / may mention DR.. Calvin Fl.
Wiley, George Spruill, William Eaton,
Jr., Judge John Kerr, Henry w. Miller,
Duncan K. McRae, II. w. Hustled,
Abram w. Venable, and one or two others
might possibly be added. They read good
literature-had some knowledge of the
great books. How is it now with the pro-
fession in North Carolina?