The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-13
IAN APPRECIATION
OF DR.. R. 4. HUDhAll
10 Opnscientious v. r. /.
Professor.
HE DIED IN HARNESS
Death Came 10 Him As He Was Con-
GLIDING the Preparation OF An Ad-
dress To Be Delivered In His Native
Town.

In the death several weeks ago of
Richard Henry Hudnall. NJ. A. Phi.
D., for eighteen years professor OF
English in the Virginia Polytechnic In
stitute, the State and the South lost
a scholar and teacher of great ability
and fine ideals of service. DR.. Hud-
nall was a native of Mississippi. and
received his earlier educational train
ing in the town Of Brandon in that
State, where he was born in 1870, and
at Mississippi College, from which he
graduated In 1885. After several years
of teaching, ne studied at the Uni
versity of Virginia, taking his NJ. A.
at that institution In 1894. Then he
went to Germany, studying first at
the University Of Goettingen, and
later at the University of Leipsic. from
which he received the degree OF Doc
tor Of Philosophy in 1898. That same
year he was appointed professor OF
English at the Virginia Polytechnic
Institute, and here he spent the rest
OF his all to brief life of conscientious
devotion to education.
DIR. Hudnall was one of the best
trained men in the profession which
he chose early In life. He was ambi-
tious to equip himself as scholar,
end he accordingly spent years in the
study Of languages and literatures
under noted philologists in this coun-
try ana abroad He had. indeed, the
temperament of the scholar. Years
of patient research made him an au-
tiortty on his specially. He brougn,
to his work at the v. 2. I. a fund OF
accurate knowledge and, what Is just
as important and even rarer an en-
thusiasm for imparting knowledge
combined with great conscientiousness
and personal interest In the individual
student Not all scholars are pains
taking teachers: in these days. when
SO much Is made OF research and
Of the writing Of books and mono
graphs by college and university pro-
fessors mere" teaching might some
times seem to be a secondary matter.
That was not the view Of DR.. Hudnall.
He did not pursue knowledse for mere
disqualification or for adding to the
storen1use OF knowledge or for fame,
but In order that he might vitalize
1t by relating 1t to academic life in the
concrete. With him learning and
teaching were inseparably connected.
He well illustrated Chaucer's clerk of
Oxford. of whom it was said; Ana
gladly would he learn and gladly
teaeh.s
Soul Of Conscientiousness.
DIR. Hudnalf was the soul of con-
scientousnees. For several years be-
fore his death he was in poor health,
hardly able at times to meet his
classes or to correct students essays,
hut he did meet them and he did cor
rect their papers. He died at work,
as Robert Louis Stevenson said he
would like to go, and as he did shoot
into the spiritual land" He had just
n ma r. tt1u hla av
animation papers and was concluding
the manuscript of an address TO be
read at the unveiling OF a monument
In his native Mississippi town. remark
ing. only two more paragraphs TO
finish" when the end suddenly came.
Death caught him nohly MT work.
DIR. Hudnall was not only an accom-
plished scholar and teacher, but he
as a man-of deep spiritual interests.
For years he was leader In his
church (Baptist), and WAS interested
,lsa oil ~nasfysIrsFass at social. bet srraeIat
His articles to the religious and secu-
lar press were always stimulating and