Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-06-13
gu Entsrsstins storn.
TALES OF THE BAR.
wzlTTxu FROM THE Lns or AN OLD
COUNSELLOR.
By W. LINN rIDBALL.
MYFIRsT RETAINER.


The application was made BY mid
dle-aged farmer. OF plain exterior and
unpublished maraer which were suf.
iciently apparent; but. as / afterward
found. Of substantial business habits
and respectable education.
as yors namo Clifiord?" be abrup.
tly inquired. placing one foot on the
door-sil while the other rema ned on
the ground, to be ready. as Il seemed,
TO enter or retreat. according to my
reply.
This was not question that re-
quired consideration. bat simply an
answer; nevertheless / hesitated -
There was something in the of. hand
manner Of the man that dispIeased
me, though aimee then / have been
frequently accosted 10 similar way,
without feeling my pride in the least
offended.
The answer 1 feltinclined to give al
the moment. should not like to re-
peat here or elsewhere. II occurred
to me in time. however. that he might
be ia search OF legal assistance, and
tho improper words at the end Of my
tongue were quickly forced back into
my gullet and swallowed. I replied
instead. as ! should have dore unhes-
itatingly. with complsisance--
Eyes. sirl my name Is Clifford
Henry Clifford. Walk In. sir, and
take seat"
Hepromptly accepted my Invitation,
dotted his hat. crossed bis legs. and
sat completely at bis ease. But bis
modeof putting questions was not In
the least changed by my civility.
"Ase you an attorney. authorized
to practice in the courts?'' he contin.
ued. looking stefdias.ly into my face
Al that time there was in my char.
actey q touch Of pseudo pride. or whal
may DO more sply termed hauteur,
aud the rncisiI answer had swallow
ed few eeconds before. leaped up
through my gorge. ana perched again
upon the tip ofmy tongue. That was
the trying moment of my exislence.--
Il was Struggle between pride and
poverty. But IL lasted only q moment.
What have | TO do with pride. when
have no. the means 10 support ill.,
Avaunt. thou monsterI
"Sir." | replied. with truth, 81 was
licensed at the last terra OF the Supreme
Court"
10 the end this proved to be for.
tunate answer. though at the time Il
gave me some uneasiness. Scarcely
was Il Uttered. when began TO fsaI
the conseq fences Of so unreserved a
disclosure.
Then you are not practiced in the
management Of suits?' he inquired, in
confirmation Of my fears.
! was yexed and angry. and more
angry than vexed. partly at his point.
ed inter- 'galo 'es. but chiefly at my
owa ineenuo asness. But the emotion
was only momentary. Iabhorred du.
plici'y. and so my frankness was Nd.
proved. OF course, the last question
was answered In like manner.
''Itis scarcely six months" re.
piled. "since my admission to the bar
and since that time | have had very
little business. and that little has beer
OF small moment. Those who wisl
TO have important matters tried, ars
rot willing. as a general thing. to trus
their management to youth will
neither beard nor experience
"There is too much truth In wha
you say" be replied, "But am ,
man Of different sort. AT the risk o
being thought queer. / will declar,
my preference for young men in near
" all matters pertaining to litigation
! cannot endure the delays usually at
tendant upon civil suits. and which
old counselors, secure in the enjoy
ment Of their regulations. do all Il
their power to foster, or as little a
possible to prevent"
Surprised to hear such languag,
from beneath so rough an exterior.
more closely scanned his countenance
which. though sunburnt and wrinkled
| found to possess unmistakable mark
Of Intelligence.
1 "There is a brief space in the pro
fessional career OF every successful al
torney," he continued. meanwhile
"lying between misdirec:ed energy O.
on the one hand, and established in
dolence on the other. during which u
Is best qualified to discharge the du
ties which he owes 10 society, to hi
client, and to himself. But beyon
that boundary, on either hand, an
especially in criminal cases. woul
greatly prefer the activity and vigilanc
Of youth 10 the tard, profundity {
mnturer years"
When he had gone 80 far. bega
to suspect the reason assigned for hi
il preference was n mere subterfuge. n
real object being to avoid = full-grow
! fee, which an old lawyer does not "a
to exact. but whish young one dal
seldom demand. How far / wa
wrong viii shortly appear.
''And now. sir..' he still continued
"before | enter upon the particular
Of the case. allow me to state one fac
that there may be no misunderstood
ing. The person in whose behalf
solicit your professional services. is n
old woman, without even the mean
OF subsistence. Are you willing
accept such client, and to use Ii
same industry and energy to procur
| The justice she claims. as if you wer
certain Of a liberal fee when your ID
Dor Is performed7"
! was not prepared to say yes, 4
| ! was too poor 70 work for nothing;