The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-13

undertake very difficult tasks.
To make q clerk out of the
editor or parson would seem
to be about as incongruous as
TO make a conservative politician out
OF new born convert IN search CT an
Office, The talent for epigrams aud
witty paragraphs, and for graceful
style aud vigorous thought Of leading
editorials, find little exercise in max
ing up the routine minutes Of judicial
decisions. This talent is 8 ill less fitted
to listen by the hour 10 the dull
speeches OF prosy lawyers which be
cannot escape. Aud he will soon Learn
that the dlller the lawyer the longer
his speech, for l will take up the bal
ance Of the night. Yet We are told
that good editors sre many sided, and
take to the bar as naturally as Prohi.
bitioniats do to water. Let us there
fore hope that he who controlled our
Avalanche will fed pleasure and con-
tentment in the ately and digniiied
proceedings of Uncle Sans august
court, and also find opportunity
for work, which, II not more bril-
liant than his conduct OF news
paper, will be far mora enduring.
The editor, like the lawyer, lives only
in his day, a. d his lame and name
only among his contemporaries. The
vast columns of newspaper and the
management of a lawsuit ara alike
only part of current events. which
perish with their remedial influences,
while a book that is worthy to live is
a perennial fountain, f,om which
generations may drink, and ia far
more priceless than the dches' Jewel
ard far more enduring than marble
shafts or brown statuary. IL is "a
thing OF beauty and joy forever"
Jourl alism, like the practice Of the
law, is the pay of Intellect on
the rock, goaded into activity, few
cred by excitement, plying its pow.
ers ia the daily task of ma ing
the brick, whether there be straw or
not, Whils authorship is intellect
nursing its energies, putting forth its
best efforts, in is best words and
best thoughts, with time and oppor-
tunity for healthy digestion. There
fore we may be content t. seq the
light of the editor go out If another
and bettsr radiance 10 10 be kindled
among the lighter duties OF tho clerk.
Charles Lamb wrote the Essays Of
Ella" while he occupied the place OF
an accountant in the East India Com
pany. Samuel Roge's dreamed on
"The Pleasures of Memory" in the
parlor Of his banking house. Li!era-
turs acd Ioutine business are
not, there fore, incompatible. And
hence l predict that our de.
parting friend will become the
official recorder OF federal judicial pro-
cesdings without robbing the world
of the wit and wisdom, the pathos
and poetry and the pure Erglish
writing and the cogent reasoning
which have so enriched our daily
presa. Therefore let us warmly well
come Parson Doak into the good COM
paay OF the lawyers and judges
where he will surely grow better, il
not wiser, from the influence OF good
associations; and at the ssme time
weave for himself a wreath of literary
garlands that will be green and
fresh long after his day and gen.
era ion. Beyond all doubt the law
yers are the greatest conservative in
huence in the secular affairs OF men.
Ii you call them necessary evil the
necessity will exist as long as human
selfislness and pervsrsity shall con-
tinus. They are trained in the study
OF individual thoughts and duty, and
of the rules by which the law seeks to
pro ect those rights and force those
duties. FGom tnis profession aud this
training the judiciary arises to defle
the application OF these rules to par
iicular cases and to administer the
remedial and restraining agencies of
the law. There is no factor in our
civilization more potent for good than
the judiciary, and Ger ainly noneso I'M
obtrusive and so little spprl Ciatt d, Nc
where is the same amount OF weary
tot aud btain work 30 poorly paid and
so little valued as that OF the Judicial
ry, and especially in Tenn essee, where
a Judge lie all times expected to listen
continuously, t. answer wisely, deib'
crate soberly and decide impartlally,
although his mind is often raCked
with financial worry and harassing
care, which springs from the failure of
the SAFE to pay him salary common
surste with his necessary expenses.
This niggardly economy OF thu State
is foul bot on our statutes as well as
reflection on the wisdom OF our law
makers.