The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-06-02
A Brilliant Young Man.

The worst thing you can do for
the average young lawyer is to send
him to the Legislature. The county
paper is responsible for this. The
editor refers to him as the silver
tongued orator OF the county. Very
few young men survive this imputa-
ton. The silvery tongued orator
must keep himself before the people.
He is suddenly awakened TO a reali-
zation of his own importance and he
must maintain his position. Until
the paper proclaimed it be did not
know that he was great man. He
had often thought so but he did not
know it. His announcement as q
candidate for the legislature came
up as a Joke. He had no idea of
such a thing, but when he saw that
hundreds of men were willing to
give him a chance, he threw out his
arms, embraced the opportunity and
became a candidate. By going to
the legislature he lost his practice,
but he smiled at this, for to MIN dis
tinction in a political way is worth
more than the remuneration Of law.
He neglects the law book and studies
the ward and township. His friends
make him believe that he is q big
man. He does not think for him
self, but allows others to think for
him. The sluggish boy who was in
the office with him is still plodding
aleng. He could not be elected to
the legislature. He is no orator. He
tried to make a speech once, but
stammered shamsfully. The boys
called him q mutton head. They
declared that be would never amount
to anything. He knew that he was
not brillIant-knew that he must re-
sort to books. He read book after
book, yet he had a poor command
of language. He knew that he would
never become speaker, so, in hu-
initiating resignation, he devoted
himself to the study of law. People
often spoke of his brilliant friend.
He will make his mark, " they said.
He is so quick. He can grasp an
idea in a moment. Law is too dull
for him. He is a statesman The
brilliant young man goes to congress.
The community is loud in his praise,
but in congress he comes in contact
with stubborn old fellows who have
spent their lives in searching for
facts. Fourth-of- July oratory don't
amount to anything. He rants, but
no one pays any attention to him.
His pet measure is defeated. His
are surprised. He
comes home and atten' pts to explain
his course. He has done nothing
has made no record Election time
draws near and he announces him
self as a candidate for reelection.
The people, ever forbearing, give
him another trial. He does his best,
but his best is nothing. He comes
home at the end of his term and set
ties down to the practice of law.
Law books are strange to him. He
feels awkward when be goes into
court. The dull boy who was in the
office with him is a leading lawyer.
He is no orator, but he has a way of
stating facts, has a crisp and lucid
manner of expression that strikes a
jury. That big white house on the
hill belongs to him. Everybody
says that he is a fine lawyer. His
calm, dispasaionaie arguments be-
fore the supreme court are said to
be- masterpieces of logic. He ven
tures nothing. With him everything
is certain. The brilliant young man
becomes a cheap lawyer. With him
everything is hap-hazzard. He re-
lies on his oratory, but his oratory
fails him He takes to drink. Years
ltterward he is a confirmed drunk
ard. His wife and daughters sup
port him. His dull friend is in the
United States senate. = Arkansalg