Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-09-08
ALEssON FOR BOYS.


A LESSON FOR BOYS.
The Late Clement l.. ValIandigham
as Student.
The following extract from private
letter gives us an insight into the studi-
GUS habits of Hon. Clement l.. Vallan-
digham. 1t is for the encouragement OF
those " ordinary" boys, and. as a sug-
gestion to the unusually bright ones that
they must learn to labor and to wait,
that we reproduce the following passages
from a private letter, written by an old
and intimate friend of Mr.. Vallandigham,
respecting that gentleman's habits of
study and application:
"I came to Dayton to study law with
Mr.. Vallandigham in the beginning of
| 1851, and lived in his house from that
time, almost continuously. until 1860 /
was his partner from November, 1854,
until he withdrew from practice, about
1859. i can speak more certainly as to
this period of time than any other.
Being myself graduate of the Je-
suits, with whom hard study is always
the orderapf the day, | was qualified to
judge of Mr.. Vallandigham's qualifica-
tions. | have no hesitation in, saying
that never knew person whose study
was more systematic, anremitting and
enduring. AT times II was painful to
me. | often thought to myself, Is this
the life of q man who seeks reputation2
II so, IS the game worth the candleY
de studied Sundays as well as week
days, but his Sunday reading was Jeremy
Taylor, Chalmers, Mosheim, Lowth, the
Bible, Barron, Cicero's Offices, etc. He
was not an early riser in my day, but he
worked hard at night. His chief study
was craftsmanship Everything tended
to his improvement in that direction.
This involved the close study of Ian
guage and of the graces of oratory.
The first book he put in my hands was
Bronson's Elocution. In early days he
practiced from it frequently Hence his
distinct enpnciation. But language he
deemed the weapon of the orator, and he
understood the shades Of meaning of
words very WELL
His library is not large. His means,
in the great portion of his life, were linn
tied. His political contests involved the
neglect of his practice. But his library
is very select Burke, | think, was his
favorite author. | do not believe there
is a book in his library that is not
marked ION the margin) from one end
to the other-many of them being re-
read frequently.
Mr.. Vallandigham was thirty-one
years Of age when l first met him. Ny
impression of him always has been that
he was not naturally quick or brilliant
man; and that he had made himself what
he was by close and never-ceasing study.
He always prepared for everything.
When a political speech was on hand,
he was shut up sometimes for days. An
instance occurred last winter when he
was engaged upon his jackson Lecture.
He could not be found, although bills of
exceptions demanded signing, motions
were to be argued, ETC., at the close of
the term
" He was not much Of novel reader,
beyond. the select authors He knew the
Waverly Novels by heart, and took great
pleasure in some of Cooper's. But he |
read too slowly to be able to read many. |
think he would be two months at one
book, would finish the same book in |
day l.4 Aai a9 A'o H
." He was not, think, in the last few
years, as close or constant a reader or
student as he had been. II would have
been strange if he had been. 1t was not
necessary. His mind. was already well
stored.
" His favorite reading was history and
biography He loved to read how other
men climbed the ladder he was on. Plu-
tarch's Lives was another great book
with him, and Livy he priced beyond
measure. He called his books his brave
utensils, as Calhan says Prospero
called his have often seen him stand
before his library and strike his hands
together with an expression of delight
in his oountenance, as he would exclaim,
My brave utensilsp | think he knew
Shakespeare and Milton almost by heart.
He did not think much of the poets,
beyond Burns, Byron and the two have
mentioned. You may depend upon one
he thought an author worth
reading he deemed him worthy of study.
He very rarely read q book He ealways
studied it. He knew little of astronomy
or the natural sciences. do not think
be had legal mind, as men like Taney,
Thurman, or his partner Haynes
IL he had, it was obscured by
his political contests. But when he en-
tered upon the practice he threw his
whole soul into it, and hunted down the
precedents too numerously. / remem-
Der Of arguing against him in an import
INT case before Judge Haynes, his
present partner, then Judge, in which he
made captivating speech, the Judge
'emarking, as he came down from the
,enoh, What fine effort but he sailed
lbove the questions. | think that if he
lad confined himself to the bar he would I
lave made a very great lawyer. But be 7
egarded the laws rs his auxiliary. He u
lften said that the wear and tear Of 2
1ourt was too much for him. He would \
,et fat in political, campaign, and lose A
is flesh in the confined struggle at the h
ar. The secret Of this was to be found Q
n his will He disliked contradiction, y
efeat or opposition; and at the bar a a
nan must meet them all. He cannot 4
hoOse his causes nor command his vic :
ories. A pigmy may overthrow him c
nth an overlooked precedent. p
He Wss very fond Of reading aloud, 8
nd was an excellent reader. He was \
good Latin scholar, reading Horace,
Scero and Quintillian, frequently in C
be original. =