ment became a walking, living, breathing encyclopedia of the world's history, philosophy, religion, poetry, music, arts and sciences and this, with his broad charity and charming personality, made him one of the most interesting and instructive men of his time.

His heart and his manners were as simple and unaffected as those of a little child, yet he was a most unconscious and unambitious intellectual giant whose like seldom comes to gladden the soul and brighten the pathway of a friend, or elevate the community in which he lives.

Since first I listened entranced to the music of his voice, I have heard many able lawyers, in many courts, but have always believed that the most pleasing, impressive and instruc tive law argument to which I ever listened was one made by Leopard in a land case before Judge Robert L. Dodge, then presiding in the old common pleas court at Gallatin, away back in 1869. The case involved the doctrine of that dryest of all dry legal questions: "Covenants running with the land." Speaking without note or law book, quoting from memory, citing volume and page, tracing the history, development and philosophy of that doctrine from the learning of the ages, with apt illustrations showing the application of the rules of law to the facts in proof, he made it all as clear and as plain as the noonday sun. Just admitted to the bar, his argument was to me a marvel of learning and of logic. Yet it demonstrated the truth of this proposition, valuable to me in later years: That the law is not a deep, dark, mysterious science, but, on the contrary, that its most complex question may be made definite, certain and luminous by patient research, study, thought, reflection and logical analysis.

The last public address I heard Leopard deliver was on the Fourth of July, 1871, in front of the old courthouse at Gallatin. The bitterness of the Civil War still rankled in the hearts of the people; his own heart had gone out in sympathy to kindred and friends in his native Southland, yet loving the Union, the Constitution and the old Flag, he had not raised hand or voice against either during the four years

struggle. Taking for his text the two lofty sentiments, at that day on the lip of every one, "Love is stronger than hate" (the slogan of the successful party in the State campaign of 1870), and that sublime invocation "Let us have peace," then recently penned by General Grant-he delivered a speech that for majestic patriotism, fervid and forceful oratory, I have never heard excelled. His strong, ringing, powerful appeal for peace, goodwill, and good citizenship so touched the heart and brain of all, that for it each hearer, when he closed, knew he was a better citizen, a more patriotic American.

Soon after this he retired from the activities of life, quit the town, went out to his farm, and there amid the quiet of home and family, the books and the magazines, the woods, the flowers and the birds he loved so well, like the sage and philosopher that he was, he calmly and fearlessly awaited the closing scene.

On the 31st day of July, 1905, at the age of seventyseven years, this venerable lawyer, gifted orator, scholar, dreamer, patriot and friend, unmoved and at peace with God and man felt the touch of the gathering mists of death as he lay in that loved country home surrounded by wife, children. and friends. He saw not their tears, heard not their sobs; for the lights were going out, the dream ending, and his dying eyes had caught a glimpse of the grasses, the flowers, the cooling shade and the glories of the land beyond the River; the soft summer air, filled with song of bird and hum of bee, laden with perfume of roses, pinks and new mown hay, floated in through the open window bringing balm of healing and of rest-forgetfulness-sleep-then "that golden key that opes the palace of eternity" was greatly turned and the great soul of John A. Leopard passed within.

JOHN EDWIN RYLAND

and

JOHN FERGUSON RYLAND.

BY WILLIAM AULL.

The Bench and Bar of Missouri have again been confronted by the messenger of death, ruthless and exacting in his love for a shining mark, and relentless and unsparing in the choice he has made.

In obedience to his will, the last footfall has been heard, the final press of loving hands felt, the parting whisper spoken, the beck of loved ones on the other shore recognized, “dust to dust and ashes to ashes" have closed the solemn service, and a brother laid in a heroic grave with outlook bright to the land immortal where loyalty on earth is consummated in supreme loyalty to God.

Gently we place a wreath at the tomb where, seeing clearly and feeling rightly, we do homage to Judge John Edwin Ryland, who departed this life at his residence in Lexington, Missouri, on the 15th day of December, 1905 (the day after the decease of his little grandchild, Fidelio Lee Wallace, Jr., at the same residence), at the venerable age of seventy-five years, five months and seven days-remembering that “a little child shall lead them.”

Friendship, love, veneration and truth whisper that we deal gently with his errors, if such he had, appreciate his labors and embalm his virtues.

Cypress has been weaved for the bier, the burial cortege has conveyed his body to its silent home, and the Missouri Bar, in offering homage to his memory, longs for fitting words of eulogy to voice the sorrow of those who loved him in life and mourn him in death.

For a time, only, personal association has deceased,

"An unsubstantial pageant all:

Droop o'er the scene the funeral pall."

John Edwin Ryland was born in Howard County, Missouri, July 8, 1830, the son of John Ferguson and Martha Barnett Ryland, and in 1831 his parents moved from Howard county to the county of Lafayette, since which time his entire life has been spent in Lafayette county and vicinity.

He left surviving him the following children: Isaac Palmer Ryland, a prominent attorney of Kansas City, Missouri; Martha Clintona Griswold, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Edwin Piggott Ryland, an illustrious minister in the M. E. Church, South, at Los Angeles, California; Lillian Ryland Wallace at Lexington, Missouri; Caius Tacitus Ryland, a physician and surgeon of widespread reputation and great skill and ability, at Lexington, Missouri; and John Reid Ryland, a most successful business man of Montgomery, Alabama.

He was educated in the schools of Lexington, principally in the Old Masonic College, from which he graduated July 2, 1852. That year and the next he taught school in Kansas City, Missouri, after which he returned to Lexington and became first assistant in the primary department of the Masonic College, which position he held until October, 1855, when he was elected principal of that department, the duties of which office he performed for two and one-half years.

Having chosen the legal profession, for which his calm, peaceful and dignified manhood, literary attainments, judicial mind, early training and association, so eminently fitted him, he commenced the study of law under the supervision of his father, Missouri's distinguished jurist, Judge John Ferguson Ryland, and was admitted to the bar in 1857. He was associated in the practice of law with his father, under the firm name of Ryland & Son, until the death of his father in 1873, at which time he entered into partnership with his brother, Xenophon Ryland, under the firm name of Ryland & Ryland.

He was enrolled in the Missouri Militia in 1862 and served more than a year in the Seventy-first regiment with the rank of major.

During the year 1862 he was elected to the office of circuit attorney for the Sixth judicial circuit of Missouri, an office of great labor, care and responsibility, pitting him against the brightest lights of the profession, in which he was bold, defiant and successful, and performed his duties with characteristic ability and integrity until 1865.

In 1863 he was elected a member of the board of education of Lexington, Missouri, and served as such for ten consecutive years. He was also a member of the city council of Lexington in 1866, and in 1868 was chosen mayor of the city of Lexington, serving one term and declining re-election.

In 1876 Judge Ryland was chosen as Democratic presidential elector for the Eleventh district, and cast his vote for Samuel J. Tilden. He was throughout life a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school, active, earnest and zealous in the councils of his party.

At the general election in 1880 he was elected judge of the criminal court of the Sixth judicial circuit and county of Johnson, and was twice re-elected without opposition, holding the office for eighteen consecutive years. His judicial record was characterized by a determination to permit no one, however humble, to submit to injustice. Like his father he was a warm friend of the junior members of the bar and treated them as he did the older and more experienced, with the greatest courtesy and consideration.

The universal esteem in which he was held as a judge, demonstrated by his repeated re-election without opposition, speaks louder than language, of the faithful, conscientious and satisfactory manner in which he discharged his trust.

In his court he always kept a well-worn Bible, and, when parties and witnesses were sworn, this Bible was produced and the oath administered with the hand of the affiant resting upon or clasping the Bible.