and labored always to have such thorough knowledge of his subject as to present it in the clearest and most striking manner to his classes. In addition to his lectures, he de voted much time and effort to a work on constitutional law. This he left so nearly completed that his son, the Hon. H. St. G. Tucker, expects soon to put it in press. John Randolph Tucker's legal reputation was national. He was in 1892 elected president of the National Bar Association, before which he delivered, on four occasions, splen did addresses. The three oldest colleges in the Union, — Harvard, William and Mary, and Yale, — each conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. Union University, in New York, added a fourth similar honor. Among many public addresses which he was called on to make, we must mention one before the Social Science Association in 1877; another, ten years later, before the Law School of Yale; and a third, delivered in Richmond, Virginia, two years ago, on the Old Court of Appeals of the State. Mr. Tucker's individuality was even more brilliant and admirable in social and private life than in his public career. He had a fine physique, courteous, charming manners, a genial disposition, a marvelous gift as a raconteur, and a spontaneous, inexhaustible flow of wit and humor, which brightened the dark places of life, and brought smiles to the faces of all whom he met. He was the center of attraction at every social gather ing, and young and old listened eagerly for the mingled fun and pathos which fell from his lips. He saw what was ludicrous even in his best and dearest, and with unusual mimetic power would reproduce it before them as with a flash of the kinetoscope, but it was always done lovingly, and without a trace of malice. To his friends he was al ways "Ran." His boys knew him affection ately as " old Ran." The humblest of the neighbors among whom he lived for twentysix years honored and revered the stately, white-haired man who had a kind word and
cheerful smile for each of them. Of late years it was his custom to stop and chat for a few moments with the friends he met in his daily walks, and many an anxious spirit felt lightened of its care after one of these kindly, witty talks. At the age of twenty-five, John Randolph Tucker married Miss Laura Holmes Powell, who survives him after an unclouded union of forty-seven years. The assistants at their wedding were wont to declare that they were the handsomest couple who ever stood be fore a parson. As husband and father, Mr. Tucker was irreproachable. He took the keenest delight in the society of his family. His wit played more freely there than else where. He was the most beloved and charm ing companion to his children and grand children, sympathizing alike in their joys and their sorrows. Early in life Mr. Tucker connected him self with the Presbyterian Church, of which he was for many years an elder; and he led in his different vocations the life of a con sistent Christian man. After returning to Washington and Lee, he added to his labors as law professor the teaching every Sunday morning of a large Bible class of young men. The words and doctrines of Holy Writ were as familiar to him as those of Blackstone and the Constitution, and he took even greater delight in setting them clearly and impressively before his youthful audi ence. The grip attacked this noble, useful man, in December, 1896, and his beneficent life ebbed slowly away. His Christian faith was unwavering amid the sufferings and prostra tion which attended his last days. Flashes of his old humor sparkled from time to time. When told by one of his daughters that the consulting physician thought his constitution much in his favor, he whispered, with a twinkle in his eye, " I always was good on the Constitution." Four daughters and one son, Hon. H. St. George Tucker, are still living. This son
