The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-04-22
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 sur
vive this imputation. The silvery
tongued orator must keep himself before
the people. He is suddenly awakened
TO realization of his own Importance
and he must maintain his position. Un-
til the paper proclaimed it he did not
know that he was a great man. He had
often thought so, but he did not know
it. His announcement as candidate
for the legislature came up as joke.
He had no idea of such a thing, but
when he saw that hundreds of men were
willing to give him 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 him distinction
in 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 be-
ieve that he is a big man. He does not
think for himself, but allows others to
think for him. The sluggish boy who
was in the office with him is still plod-
ding along. He could not be elected to
the legislature. He is no orator. He
tried to make speech once, but stam-
mered shamefully. The boys called him
mutton head. They declared that he
would never amount to anything. Such
taunts as these drove him to harder
study. He knew that he was not bril-
liant-knew that he must resort to
books. He read book after book, vet
he had poor command of language.
He knew that he would never become a
speaker, so, in humiliating 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 moment. Law is too dull for him.
He is 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 fell
lows who have spent their lives in search
ing for facts. Fourth-of-July oratory
amounts to nothing. He rants, but no
one pays any attention to him. His pet
measure is defeated His constituents
are surprised. He comes home and at
tempts to explain his course. He has
done nothing-has made no record.
Election time draws near and he an
nounces himself as candidate for re-
election. 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 settles
down to the practice of law. Law
books are strange to him. He feels
awkward when he goes into court The
dull boy who was in the office with him
is a leading lawyer. He is no orator,
but he has way of stating facts, has a
crisp aud lucid manner of expression
that strikes jury. That big white
house on the hill belongs to him.
Every body says that he is a fine lawyer.
His calm, dispassionate arguments be-
fore the supreme court are said to be
masterpieces of logic. He ventures
nothing. With him everything is cer-
tain. The brilliant young man becomes
a cheap lawyer. With him everything
is hap-hazard He relies on his oratory,
but his oratory fails him. He takes to
drink Years afterward he is a con-
tirmed drunkard. His wife and daugh-
ters support him. His dull friend is in
the United States senate.-Arka,asaa
Traveller