The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-09-21
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vaIIandIEha.n as q student ans
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VntAand1Ehasn as . Student nnd
The following from last Sundays Com
nercidL viii, we feel sure, be read with in
terest by the readers OF the DEMocRAT.
The author is prominent citizen Of Day
ton, and well known.
81 came to Dayton to study law with
Mr.. Vallandigham in the beginning of
1851, and lived IN the house from that
time, and almost continuously, until 1860.
I 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 a graduate ofthe Jesuits,
with whom hard study is always the or
der of the day, was qualified to Judge of
Mr., \ Nallandigham's application. I have
no hesltation saying that never knew a
person whose study WAS more systematic.
unremitting and enduring. At times it
was painful to me- l often thought to
myself Is tins the'lif of q man who seeks
reputation Ifso, is the game worth the
candle He studied Sundays as well as
week days, but his Sunday reading was
jeremy Taylor, Chalmers, Mosheilm, ,Eowth,
the Bible, Barron, GieeFOs Orations, etc.
He was not an early riser an my dag, bat
he worked hard at night: His chief study
was craftsmanship. Everything tended to
his improvement in that direction. This
involved the close study Of language and
of the graces of oratory. The first book
he put into my hands was Bronson's Elo-
cution. In early days he practiced from
it frequently Hence his distinct enunci-
alton. But language he deemed the Weap-
m -f tho oy,I Z
shades of meaning in words very we'll
His library is not large His means,
IN the great proportion Of his life, were
limited. His political contests involved
the neglect of his practice. But his Ii
brary is very select. Burke, think, was
his favorite author. do not believe there
IS book IN his library that is not marked
ION the margins) from one end to the other
many of them beng Te-Tedd frequently.
Mr. VallandIgham was thirty-one years
OF age when first met him. Nv impress
sion of him alwas has been that he was
not naturally a quick or brillisnt man;
and that he had made himself what he
was by close and neVer-ceasing study.
de always prepared for every thing.
When political speech was on hand, he
was shut up sometimes for days. Al, in
stance occurred last'Wlnter when he was
engaged upon his Jackson Lecture. He
could not be found, although bills of ex-
eeptlon demanded signing, motions were
to be argued, &c, at the close of the term,
He was not much of a novel-rsader.
beyond the select authors. He knew the
Waverly Novels by heart, and took great
pleasure IN some ofCooper's. But he read
too slowly to be able TO read many.
think he would be tsro months at one book
that would read an q ddy.
HE was not, think, in the las few
years, as close or constant a reader or stu
dent as he had been 1t would have been
strange If he had been. 1t was not neces-
sary. His mind was already 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 Liyy he priced beyond measure
He called his books his brave utensila.' as
Cahban says Prospero called his. have
often seen him stand before his library
and strike his hands together with an ex.
preston of delight in his countenance, as
he would exciain, Ny brave utensils h ]
think he knew Shakespeare and Milton al
most by heart. He did not think much
of the poets, beyond Burns, Byron and the
two have mentioned. You NAV depend
upon one thing-when he thought an au-
thor worth reading. he deemed him worthy
OF study He very rarely read book
He always studied IT He knew little Of
astronomy or of the natural sciences.
do not thlnk he had a legal mind, as men
like fanny. Thurman, or his partner
Haynes. If he had, it was obscpred By
his political contests. But when he en-
| tered upon the practice he threw his whole
soul into it, and hunted down the preoe'
dents, too numerously. remember o
arguing against hip,an important case be
fore Judge Haynes, his present partner
then Judge, in which he made eaptiP,
ating speech, the Judge remarking, as b,
came down from the Bench, What a fnt
effort; but he sailed above the questions.
I think that if he had confined himself K
the Bar he would haYe made-a very greA
lawyer. But ne regarded the law as hi
auxiliary BE often said that the weAl
and tear Of Court was too much for him
He would get TAT IN political campaign
| and lose his hesh IN confined struggle q
the Bar The secret Of this was to b,
found in his will He dishked contradic
tion, defeat or opposition AID at the Ba
q man must meet with them ell. He can
not choose his causes nor command hi
victories. A pigmy may overthrow hin
with an overlooked precedent.
"He was very fond of reading aloud, ant
was an excellent reader. He was 9 geo(
Latin scholar, reading Horace, Cicero ant
Quintillan frequently in the original"