The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-08-08


Wheaton.
Textbooks are the chief means of instruc-
ton in this School, and lectures not read to
| the class, for law is too abstruse a learning TO
| be taught after that fashion; but 1t has been
| the practice to furnish the s. udent written
lectures on Mississippi practice, for him TO
read and copy.
One Of the chief advantages of a law school
and especially of one not over-erowded with
students-is that by rigorous course of eX-
animation repeated with every student every
day on his days reading, thorough accuracy
is guaranteed in his mastery of the subject.
In this school, every student Is thus examined
every day, about three hours day being de-
voted to this exercise, and explanations being
given on those points which this rigorous eX
animation may show that the student does not
sufficiently understand.
A practice has also been adopted here of re
quiring the students, frequently, 10 write down
In the recitation room synopsis OF their latest
reading in order to compel them TO that aceu
racy which is essential TO a lawyer; and each
student is in turn required to stand up before
the class, and, in manner rs decent and quiet
possible, to deliver an oral statement OF the
contents of the chapter and sometimes synop-
sis of the book under perusaL This is done TO
train the young men to the art Of forensic ora
tory; for they not allowed to deliver
memoriZed statement, and their exercise
amountsto the same thing an oral argument
at the bar, and is perhaps tie only mode
practical of teaching the art fpublic speaking.
Obviously, the fewer the students, the more
training OF this KIND each one can obtain.
The law course here has always been two
year4' course. In June, 1872, the trustees dis
pensed with the necessity of two years atten-
dance and permitted the graduation Of stu
dent who attends one year provided he
should pass a satisfactory examination. The
degree, or diploma, thus obtained is made, by
statute, license to practice law in any court
in Mississippi. The student may enter the
class at any time, though he is advised to be
here at the beginning Of the session, about
the first of October.
Board and lodging, fuel, lights washing
and servants attendance, can be had IN Ok
ford at prices varying from sixteen to twenty
five dollars month-the cheapest being about
good the costliest The tuition fee is fifty
dollars in the Law School; in all other depart
ments of the University, tuition is free. There
were two hundred and sixty students in the
University last session. The Law School,
though re-organized only Just as the Univer-
sity opened, had success surprising to its
most sanguine friends, and 1t is already
known that next year 1T viii have a still bet
ter attendance.
No young man who has attempted without as
IN m study to master tn, the y g i5
and often oyerpowering dreariness of such an
undertaking. Blackstone, after quoting a
very great lawyer, Sir Henry Spelman's con-
fession, that such a trial had made his soul sink
within him, condemns the effort to learn law
by Hsequestering ones self from the world,
and by a tedious, lonely process, extract
ing the theory of the law from a mass of
undigested learning" He equally condemns
the effort to learn it by on assiduous atten
dance on the courts TO pick up theory and
practice together \ law school gives the
student immense relief from this painful
irksomeness attending his first year or two's
plodding in the endless volumes OF the law.
Such relief is derived frozn ,the emulation
and companionship of studying in classes,
and from the daily examinations. The stu
dents are constantly discussing their studies
not only with the professor but with each 9TH
err, and their interest is thus prevented from
fbais 1oil han Icr
repulsive.
Besides, however, the advantages of pre-
cision in his learning and of a much Hvelier, |
and therefore, much more vigorous prosecu-
tion of his studies, to be derived by q law stu
dent from the daily discussions of alaw school, |
there is another question, namely, whether
law office or a law school be the better place
for learning law in q scientific method, such
as every man must pursue to obtain success
and on this question, the attention of students
and of the profession is invited to the opin-
ion of Sir William Blackstone
Making due allowance" says he, for one
or two shining exceptions, experience may
teach to foretell that a lawyer, educated 10
the bar in subservience to attorneys and so
licitors, will find he has begun at the wrong
end. If practice be the whole he is taught, |
practice must also be the whole he will ever
know. He must never aspire to form and sell
dom expect to comprehend, any arguments
drawn, a pTi0ri, from the spirit of the laws
and the natural foundations of Justice"
On the other hand, speaking of the law
school he says:
IF the student will afford himself here a
year or two s further leisure, to lay the foun-
dation of his future labOrs in solid and sci
entifc method, without thirsting too early TO
attend that practice which il is impossible he
should rightly comprehend, he will afterward
proceed with the greatest ease, and will unfold
the most intricate points with an intuitive ra
pidity and clearness."
Blackstone Commentaries, Introduction,
PIP. S1-34. july23w6m3dpge