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��EULOGY OF DANIEL M. CHRISTIE.
��affection of every man who ever sat at his feet and learned of him.
There was something very remarkable in the manner of his teaching. It is one of the distinguishing and certain marks of greatness in a man that he is in essen- tial respects unlike all other men. I think the acknowledged great men of history all respond to this test. Mr. Christie was emphatically a man of that stamp. Who was ever like him? He was in all respects sui generis. In his personal character, his habits of mind, his methods of investi- gation, he was grand, solitary and pe- culiar, and his image stands out among lawyers as clear and distinct as that of William Pinkney, or Jeremiah Mason, or Daniel Webster, or Kufus Choate. And in such a powerful manner did he impress his characteristics upon his pupils that he may be almost said to have been the founder of a school of legal study and dialectics, as Socrates was of a philoso- phy of investigation, and his was as severe, and rigid, aud thorough. There have been many, indeed, who looked upon him as their intellectual father — many illustrious names who have pre- ceded him to the grave, and others who still live to be the lights of the bar and the forum. Although he imparted facts and principles with a lavish hand, it was, after all, the spirit of his teachings which was of most value to the student. Those of us who are grateful to him, and to the influence of his mind and character, as many of us are, for what we feel to be best and most valuable in our culture and training, are grateful not so much for any direct precepts as for that inspiring lift which only genius can supply to the fac- ulties. He fecundated all minds that came under his sway, and so contagious were his elevated morality and his ardor in the pursuit of truth, that any pupil of his who should not exhibit some of his characteristics in his life and career would indeed be unintelligent or morally de- praved.
If I could linger to do so, I might re- count Mr. Christie's career in other spheres of business, and find in it titles quite as high to the honor and respect of the community as he won for himself in his chosen profession. He was an officer
��for many years in several of our largest corporations, and discharged his respon- sibilities in that capacity with the same high scrupulousness, the same industry, and the same conscientious fidelity to his trust which actuated him in the law. He impressed all the financial institutions in which he had any directory part, for their good, and ours, and the good of the community, with the stamp of his own sturdy integrity, solidity and soundness. In fine, upon whatever theatre of action he moved, he exhibited a grandeur and individuality of character, a high princi- ple and nice sense of honor, which made him worthy of the imitation of all who are to succeed him in the high places of life. He had in a large degree the home- bred virtues of his Scotch-Irish ancestry, mingled with much of the spirit and fla- vor of the great men of antiquity — the indomitable will — the severe simplicity — the rugged integrity — the uncompromis- ing hatred of dishonesty and wrong — the genuine contempt for weakness and pre- tence — the austere private virtue — the unconsciousness of great genius.
In this hasty and imperfect sketch of Mr. Christie's characteristics I have but one thing further to present, and I am glad that I am not obliged to close with- out saying this which ought most to en- dear him to the common men and women whom he has left behind him. I am able to say from personal knowledge what is confirmed by affectionate unanimity by his family, that in the home circle he was always sweet, kind, considerate and indulgent. The private life of many a man of genius is a domain which cannot be entered with safety, or prudence, or delicacy. How different it was with Mr. Christie ! Here is no forbidden ground — and how thankful to God we are and ought to be to-day, that here was one great and famous man, upon every hour and act of whose private life and inter- course with friends and family the light of noon-day might be turned with micro- scopic power and find no stain or impu- rity. That he was upright, exemplary and decorous before the world we all know. But he was more. He was sound and sweet to the core. He had a singular, almost infantile guilelessness of
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