15-2 



Memorial of Orlando Meads, LL. D. 



more abundant charms in the mediaeval. He would travel very far 

 for the opportunity to gaze upon a painting or a piece of statuary which 

 had come down to us under the seal of centuries ; and so diligently 

 did he thus carry his researches that it is questionable whether there 

 are many well-known works of art extant which he had not seen, or 

 about which he could not have told us something, or for his opinion 

 of which he could not have given a logical and satisfactory reason. 



This, then, in brief, was the life of our late President — the life of 

 u lawyer who, untroubled with the restlessness of the age, quietly 

 lived out his allotted span in the city of his birth, attaining high ex- 

 cellence and appreciation in his profession, and mingling with its need- 

 ful study an earnest and thoughtful devotion to those arts which, 

 when intelligently improved, do so much to add zest and pleasure to 

 existence. Judged from the ordinary standpoints of the day, it was 

 not a far-reaching life. It does not speak of political popularity or of 

 chairs of State filled ; of legions led successfully to battle ; of forensic 

 displays in great causes that live in legal history ; or even of individ- 

 ual triumphs in the productive fields of art or literature. But if not 

 wide spreading, it was, in all respects, a full, well-rounded life. It 

 tells of a quiet professional career, that from its beginning held its own 

 nselfish competition ; and which bears its highest proof 



no burning jealousi 



• bitter hatred. It tells of a life devoted, as far as possible, to art; 

 id which was not content with gaining personal enjoyment from the 

 irsuit. but accomplished much in educating and aiding popular taste 

 the same direction. It tells of a life adorned with the ungrudging 

 T'v.-iati..n of his fellow-men, shown in the unsolicited bestowal of 

 ich trusts and honors as most naturally adapted themselves to his 

 stes. And far better than all else, perhaps, it tells of a life more 

 'undantlv bh-ssed with earnest friendships than usually falls to the 

 of man ; for though all of us believe that we have our friends, and 

 >pe that there will be no period of our lives without them, they too 

 !l !l ( ""ic and go, suffering easy change and substitution, as, in our 

 issage by the way, our altering tastes seem constantly to require 

 wer associations. There are not many men who, like President Or- 

 ds, could so nearly reach the sixteenth lustrum and find still 



cles the 



'■""ipaiiiuiis of early youth, warm ;. 



and elate with the consciousness that more than half a 

 ever cast a shadow upon their bright friendship, 

 conclusion, it befits the time and 



