Evening journal., 1922-06-21
'EULOGIzESLATE
|. IRVING HANDY
Resolutions Adopted by Bar
Association Presented TO
Supreme Court
WILLIAM F. KURTZ
MAKES ADDRESS
Special to The Evening Journal.

DOVER, June 21-William F
Kurtz OF the New Castle County Bal
Association presented to the Su
preme Court yesterday afternoon
resolutions adopted some time age
by the association on the death oi
Levin Irving Handy. After read
Ing the resolutions Mr.. Kurtz eulog
lied the deceased in an address to
the court He said in part;
Il. Irving Handy was an interest
ing and many-sided man, whose life
history and influence in the com
munity cannot be adequately told on
this occasion. l seek only TO sketch
briefly a few sidelights on his char
acter so that those who knew him
less intimately might better Under
stand his character and might carry
away in their memories a softer
better and fairer picture of the man
than mere casual acquaintanceship
might have created.
Levin Irving Handy in my judg
ment. possessed many OF the attri-
butes of a great man. but his patent
human frailties. prevented him from
attaining such stature in full in the
estimation OF the public lie was.
however, admired by large follow
ing Of his fellow citizens and esteem
ed by all whose opinion carried
weight To me, his dominant char
acteristics were, his humor; his So
ciability; his broad. democratic
spirit; his kindliness; his intellectu
aliiy.
In thinking Of him. always
think OF his humor and his sove OF
H. Wit and humor bubbled from
him as Inevitably and as naturally !
as water from a spring No occa- /
sion was too solemn for him to per- /
petra;e his humor. seriously /
warned him in his early career al
the Bar that he was jeopardizing his |
chances Of success as a trial lawyer
by his overdeveloped sense of hu- |
NOR. by which he convulsed the jury /
with laughter, hut failed to win their
verdicts. l presume It was a psy-
Geological reaction. The jury prob
ably thought that lawyer who could /
inject so much fun into a case prob
ably had no serious care to propose.
In fact. think Mr.. Handy's over
developed sense OF humor tended to !
obscure 10 the public mind his real
ability.
Il went abroad with him once
and I verify believe and state that .
the seven days on the ship going over .
and the seven days upon the ship |
coming back were chiefly occupied (
by Handy in telling stories. He was /
the most popular man on the ship. |
and his own enjoyment OF the occa- (
sion was keen. Some Of his stories
were works OF art. All had a point. |
which was always brought out with
telling effect.
Although he was not college
bred man, he had keen and brill
liant intellect, as well as broad
knowledge and intellieence, and. he
used his gifts IN a skillful manner. I
He was a rapid reader and he di- /
gested what he read with as much |
gusto and as easily as he used to
digest a big tenderioin beefsteak
when he was in his physical prime.
With such a keen intellect. he was
necessarily a good and capable law
yer, who appreciated and could
apply the technical niceties of the /
law for the benefit OF his clients.
He served his clients with ability, L
and with indefatigable zeal and low
atty. and won many victories for his
clients when they least expected.
He did not. however, shine best in
his last chosen profession. He was
more in his element as an educator
or public officer. Although he (
had deep and settled religious CON
he used to say laughingly
hat if he could have preached in
one community and lived in another. ]
le would have chosen the ministry
IS vocation. But Handy was no
lypocrite. He felt strongly all Of the
loble and inspiring impulses which
le could so brilliantly picture. and !
lie could, by his oratory, move I
'thsrs emotionallv TO desire the I
lappening of the things he pictured. &
3H1he drew the line on posing as a v
wing example Of the high and noble $
'recepts which he preached {
Handy was never more charm v
ng than in his own home He loved a
cciability. Surrounded by his fam C
ly, and acting as host to one or y
more guests il was then that his star q
cached its zenith. without egotism
nd self-assertiveness, he discussed Il
ny topic that arose, intelligently. in p
erestingiy and instructively 1t was
II such gatherings that his richly u
stored mind gave forth its best Il
'iforts. Hospita ity. sociabillty. wit p
aumor and information were d,s- "
pensed with lavish prodigality. so k
was genuine treat a
Handy was d.stinctively. a kindly p
man He had broad. generous dis +
position. which permitted him syn- L
TO become interested in Q
the sayings and doings oc his fellow J
beings and his hand and pocketbook =
we're always ready and willing to s
help those in distress. II
David j. Reinhardt. also made an !
address eulogizing the deceased. He q
said in part: II
Perhaps. there is given to the at !
1orneys general of this State in ]
Greater measure than to the other