Washington and Lee University - Calyx Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

Page 11 text:

Joseph Ragland Long Ho write a recognizable sketch of a law professor is, I have been warned, an offence indictable at common law. I have been careful, therefore, to draw the material facts alleged in this article from the last volume of Who ' s Who in America and from the current catalogue of Washington and Lee Uni- versity. For the immaterial statements advanced I am willing to stand responsible. In September, 1902, I boarded the C. O. train at Lynchburg on my way to Lexington to assume the duties of the professorship of history, to which I had been elected at the meeting of the board of trustees in June. No sooner had I taken my seat in the chair car attached to the rear of the train than my bachelor eye fell on a couple seated across the aisle whom I correctly surmised to be a bride and groom. A second glance at the groom satisfied me that he was none other than Joseph R. Long, professor- elect of Civil Law and Equity in the university at L exington for which I was bound. I had known his brother in Lynchburg and the likeness was unmistakable. Both bride and groom looked so smilingly upon the world that, assured of a cordial reception, I imme- diately went over, without waiting for the train to start, and introduced myself. That was the beginning of a friendship which the passing years have not ceased to strengthen. Together we changed cars at Balcony Falls and in the dingy little coach, since become so familiar, went through the novel experience of backing into Lexington. As newcomers we naturally con pared notes on our colleagues, on the traditions and prospects of the university, and on the town. Being progressives we decided that certain reforms were needed. (It is only necessary to remark here that great and far reaching have been the changes of the past decade, but modesty compels us to concede to others a fair share of the credit.) No one can be thrown with Professor Long ( Joe, as the students call him) even for a short time without seeing that he is a good fellow. He has a keen sense of humor, combined with a delicate touch of irony, which never fails to detect the weak point in the other fellow ' s argument, but which always keeps him in good temper. In- tellectually his chief characteristic is his versatility and his wide range of accurate infor- mation. He reads extensively and has clearly thought out opinions on many subjects. In fact there are few topics that come before the Fortnightly Club (Lexington ' s intel- lectual clearing-house) for discussion, on which he can not and does not speak in a clear.