Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-06-15
DISTINGUISHED LAWYERS.

The following talk" to his class by
Professor Parsons Of the Harvard Law
School was taken down by one of bis stu.
dents:
will begin with the greatest man
ever knew and one to whom the country
owes q deeper debt Of gratitude than d
any. except Washington.
CHIEY JUSTICE MARsmALL.-I knew
him but one Winter. When called on
him, I was received with perfect kind
ness, and | was cordially invited to call
again. The tone Of his voice plainly in
dicated that the invitation extended was
meant as no mere act of politeness. Ibid
call again aud again. and each visit made
me more and more anxious to call more
frequently.
Chief Justice Marshall began with poe
try. At the age Of twelve he had copied
all Of Pope's Essay on Man. He would
repeat much "f Shakespeare. Dryden.
Pope, Campbell. and other standard po-
cts.
lie wrote a great deal Of poetry him
self; but even at this young age he dis
played that great sagscity which so dis
tinguished him. He never published any
of his poetry.
At the age Of twenty he entered the
army. where he remained until 1871. He
figured in most Of tn, principal engage
ments in the South.
While stationed at Philadelphia he at
tended one course Of law lectures. During
all this time he was very poor.
When he was returning home an inn.
keeper refused him admission to hi.
house, because he did not look respecta.
ble Soon after returning home, in 1882
he was elected to the Virginia Legisla.
ture. where he was returned as member
until 1892.
In 1900 he was appointed and confirm
ed Secretary of War He. however, new
er entered upon the duties of his Office
for before he could do so there was Va
cancy in the Office Of Secretary Of State
and he had this position rendered him.
He did not hold this Office long, for il
1901 he was appointed first Chief Justic,
Of The United States. When this was ten
dered to him by President Adams. ht
positively refused it. and urged the claim.
Of other gentlemen. who he thought NOR,
qualified. Finally. however. his nam,
was sent to the Senate. and he was unan
imously confirmed. He knew very littl,
book law" when he was appointed. Fl,
had attended but one course Of law lee
lures and had practiced but three years
This was the great reason Why he urged
% strongly the appointments Of others. L
Is said Of Marshall that he never held ar
Office that was not forced upon him.
Soon after he was admitted to practices
he married. He was still very poor. Fl,
said he did pay the preacher for marrying
him, and that he had one guinea left. u
course he had to work very hard in hi.
profession. II is probably moro to BIZ
early poverty than to anything else tha
he owed those habits Of indomitable enc,
gy which were % characteristic Of him.-
He vas forty six years Of age when he wa
appointed. He Immediately commenced .,
pursue . systematic course Of the study o
the law.
He never became familiar with the books
In ali the ranks Of legal literature ther,
are no books Eaere there ID % little au
shority cited as those containing his de
cisious. When case vas argued. an,
il was for the Judges TO decide il, ate
thinking for soUe time. he would writ
dewn his decision. and handing il b
Judge Story. say There. Story, that
she Law Of this case now 60 and end th
authorities !" and probably there was d
one more able 10 do this than Story.
Story once said: "when wisb<o res
10 point in the law. ! have 10 grope timid
ly from headland 10 keadland. and fee
satisfied If at last remotely reach H.
But Marshall. in advcnturesome and bol
manner. puts right out 10 sea, and with
out dil6culty approaches it.s
| He was remarkable and peculiar in hi
cid sge, when knew him. He care
|. nothing for fash,eas. He had ncvs
changed the cut Of his dress. His sussil