St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-06
METROPOLITAN MEN.
A Group of Languages, Among
Eminent Ones of the
New York Bar.
Social and Personal Influence Affect
ing Professional Success
erency as Lawyers Trait.
Chauncey NJ. DePew, Algernon S. Sullivan,
the Late VIM. A. Beach and
John ID. Townsend.

Especial Correspondence of the Sunday Globe.
NEW YORK, July 3, 1SS4.-You would
hardly credit as probable or even possible
that lawyers of standing and experience in
other cities would make inquiries of a
stranger whom they know only through this
correspondence as to what qualifications or
Influence was necessary to success in their
profession in New York. and what are the
average incomes of lawyers in active practice
here. Yet have received, since writing
you regarding the large fees earned by law
yers practicing in the Surrogate's court of
this county, certainly as many as a score of
such letters Of inquiry. At first | thought
them Of no interest and regarded them as
probably anonymous, but the number in
creasing, | made inquiry as to the alleged
writers and found that they were actually
lawyers of fair repute in their homes and [
concluded that the subjects on which they
wrote might have considerable interest for
all members Of the legal profession outside
Of the city. l do not know how many law
yers there are in other cities who may be in
terested in those practicing here, but the
latest compilation for business directory
made during the last month gives the num-
Der here at about 1880. Another conclu-
sion which l reach from my correspondence
and from observations by lawyers with
whom l have conversed is that nearly all
lawyers outside of New York are eager to
add their personality to the already over
crowded profession within the metropolis.
l should advise all such who are disposed to
come not to do t,-until client not only
INSISTS upon their doing so, but is willing to
pay the cost of an experiment which will be
doubtful ninety-nine cases out Of every
hundred. There is room here-at the top,
but thetop of the pedestalis is very narrow
and already crowded.
The qualifications necessary to success in
the legal profession here | cannot pretend to
describe. Those who succeed may possibly
know, but they won't tell. Personal or po-
litical influence has something to do with it
of this there is no question in my mind,
but the men thus favored by influence must
have also great merit of their own. Many
others have been elevated largely by influence
not political. What would you say of law
yers succeeding by social influence solely!
Such things have been, and two Of the most
successful LAWYERS at present in New York
owe sudden success, which would have re-
quired years to accomplish under ordinary
circumstances, to their social influence.
Others owe success to natural gifts of pleas
ing eloqucnce; others to mental peculiari-
ties which fit them for particular branch of
the profession while still others owe success
to their belligerent dispositions. | had it in
my mind to write of two of the first class,
Chauncey NJ. Depew and Algernon S. Sulli-
van, when one of them suddenly departed
the country, and of two of the latter class,
William A. Beach and John d. Townsend,
when one of them suddenly departed this
life. However, their peculiarities remain
behind TO serve as illustrations of these
ideas, and their features had had delineated
very faithfully before their departures.
Chauncey NJ. Depew is very remarkable
illustration of the influence which social po-
siton may have upon mans professional
career. He is man who, with great wit,
tine presence, charming manner, smooth