Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-09-10

The folio wing extract from a private
letter gives US an insight into the stu
dious habits of Hon. Clement L. Val
landigham. 1t is for the encourage.
ment of those Ordinary" boys, and
as a suggestion to the unusually bright
ones that they mast learn TO labor
and to wait, that we reproduce the
following passages from a private let
ter, written by an old and intimate
friend of Mr.. Vallandigham, respect
ing that gentleman's habits of study
and application:
az cameto Dayton to study law with
Mr.. Vallandigham in the beginning
of 1851, and lived in his house nom
that time, almost continuously, until
1850. I was his partner from N0vem-
Der, 1854, until he withdrew from
practice, about 1853. / can speak
more certainly as to this period of
time than any other.
"Being myself a graduate of the
Jesuits, with whom hard study Is al
ways the order of the day,I was quail
fed to Judge of Mr.. Vallandigham's
application. have no hesitation in
saying that / never knew q person
whose study was more systematic, IN
TeD9itting and enduring. At times il
was painful to me 1 often Thought
to myself, is this the life of q man
who seeks reputation? If so, is the
game worth the candle?' He studied
Sundays as well as week days, but his
Sunday reading was Jeremy Taylor,
Chalmers, Mosheim, Lowth, the Bible.
Barron, Cieero's Offices, etc. He was
NOT ON nCElrv rfonN - DnrvA0- kvrk 10
worked hard at night. Bis chief
study was craftsmanship. Every
thing tended to his Improvement in
close study of language and of the
put iR,my hands was BrOnson's ElOcu-
ton. In early days he practiced it
frequently. Hence his distinct enun-
citation. But language he deemed the
weapon of the orator, and he under
stood the shades Of meaning Of words
very well.
" His library is not large. His
means in thegreeter portion Of his life
were limited. His political contests
involved the neglect Of his practice.
But his library is very select. Burke,
think, was his tavorite author. I do
not believe there is q book in his
library that Is not marked ION the
margfn) from one end to the Other-
many Of them being re-read fire.
Quently.
"MF. Yallandigham was thirty-0ne
years OF age when I first met him..
Ny impression of him always has
been that he was not naturally q
quick or a brilliant man, and that he !
had made himself what he was by !
and never-ceasing study. He Z
prepared for everything.
When a political speech was on hand, !
be was shut up sometimes for days. l
An instance occurred last winter, }
when he was engaged upon bis Jack !
lon lecture He could not be found, (
although bills Of exceptions demand I
< signing, motions were to be ar 2
.ued, ETC., at the close Of the term. Z
FHe was not much of novel reader I
the select authors. He knew !.
be Wavexiy Novels By heart, ard =
COX great pleasure In some Of y
'oOper's. Bus be read too slowly to I!
able to read many. / think he y
7euld be two months at one book. / q
z01ld finch the same book in a DAY. n
"He was net, I fhink, In the last few g
ears, as close or constant areader or
udent as he had been. 1t would
ave heenstranRe IL he had BEEN It
as not Necessary. His mind was al bl
.ady stored. M
"His taYorite reading was history an