The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-06-15

who, from q commanding height views
vast prospect, bounded only BY the hor.
lion; he sees further in all directions
than his feet may tread, and he rCcog.
Mics the fact that far more eItensI &c re-
gions lie beyond the reach even Of his
sight. Certainly he is in little danger OF
mourning this presumptuous iault OF ex-
aggerating his own knowledge who earn
estiy sells himself to work to master any
single subject in any department Of
knowledge. Such task will soon teach
him an humble estimate Of the extent Of
his acquisitions. And this very sale
guard Won have in the nature Vi your
chosen profession, which exacts such
close and patient study both Of principles
and details Of fact. You are laborers in
rich mines, where each arduOus step adj
yanced shows new veins OF ore branching
in all directions before and around you.
Lord Brougham, eminently practical
man rs he was, advised one about to pre-
pare himself for the bar, to begin with
the reading Of Dante, This may seem
somewhat eccentric, but certainly an in
timate acquaintance with the great poets
OF our own language you will lind Of in.
estimable value. In them the highest aud
truest wisdom is expressed not only in
the most attractive, but also in the most
condensed form; and so not only do we
receive the greatest pleasure when We
read them, but their "Delphic lines" re-
main forever in our memories invaluable
treasures, always ready for use and COM
fort, Indeed, think that this character.
istic OF condensed -metriCal expression
furnishes fair lest Of distinguishing
true poetry and that does not deserve
the name, which fails to present an idea
or an image in fewer words than would
be possible in prose. It follows that there
can be no better teachers OF strong and
eloquent expression than the poets, and
II you become familiar with their works,
even il you never quote line from them,
their effect will bO tolt in the mOlding
aud coIoring Of your Language, although
the source whence the effect Is derived
will seldom be recognized by your hear.
ers. As to direct quotation in your
speeches, 1t IL not, rs u general thing, adj
visablo, although, sometimes, a very hap.
by effect may be produced by an apt and
not too haCknied quotation. Lord Ers'
kline, who as q forensic orator has never
been surpassed, has reported us his ex:
perienCc that the Onl y quotations he found
effective with juries were from the Bible
and from Shakespeare and Milton.
will not pass from this topic without
saying further that, aside from these
practical uses, taste for il will help to
keep your heart and mind pure and fresh
amid the hardening and cOrrupting inilu'
enccs OF that world Of greed and strife
with which you will be forced to become
COnverMnt.
Mr.. Donaldson concluded an cmincntly
wise and useful address by enforcing on
his listeners the moral obligations Of tho
profession. lie pointed out tho evil OF
useless and malicious litigation, aud do
monstruted that tho lawyer who con-
stantly aimed to gain some mOmentary
triumph rather than promote the CStab.
lishment Of correct principles dsoon
only got the bad cases. Tho lawyer who
discouraged the dishonest and the lii.
gious would have constant accession Of
those who desire legal advice to guide
them in their business transactions and
save them from litigation, or II forced
into court, secure their rights and pro.
tect them from injustice, We close our
extracts with the following;
A II general rule decline to take cases
merely on speculation, however large
may DO the contingent fee promised rs the
reward Of success. In our profession, as
in all other occupations, work performed
iscntitled tOfair and certain compensation
according to the skill and fidelity Of the
workman and the value Of tho expected
result; and 1t seems unbecoming to intro.
duce n gambling spirit into Intellectual
employment. Of course there must be
some exceptions to this rule; for II may
happen that most important interests are
at stake, where the parties entitled have
no other means Of procuring the services
Of counsel than the very property or
claim that is withheld from them, and
which they are seeking to recover. To
some the element Of chance gives zest to
an undertaking; but the habit ofspeculat-
ing in'law suits not only fosters much
gr0nndless and unjustifable litigation,
and 80 tends to blunt the nicely Of pro.
fessiOnal honor; il also frequently leads
to u waste Of great part OF professional
life in anxious and prontlesS labor,
which il but poorly recOmpensed by an
occasional lucky success. Avoid, also,
all business employment not strictly IN
the line Of your profession. So long as
you remain candidates for legal practice,
he neither merchants nor brokers. Do
not undertake to render any other services
for compensation than what consists
in the use Of your knowledge and sagaci.
ty as cOtnSelOrS, or in the fair and open
exercise Of your talents us advocates in
tho argument Of causes before the regular
tribunals OF the country. Let no
amount Of fee, present or contingent ever
tempt you to exert personal or political
influence, to secure claims, or to procure
advantages for your clients, still les4 for
the purpose Of affecting legislative action
IN favor Of private interests. When your
character "a put into the market as IL
commodity, It Is gone.
TuE pOTATO BUO,-prof, Cook, OF the