The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-12-14

again returned in 1851, but did not take his
seat. During the civil war he served with
distinction in the Confederate army, attain
ing the rank of brigadier general, At the
close Of the war he came to New York and
resumed the practice of law. He was coun-
sci for the Chicago Anarchists on the appeal
TO the United States supreme court, obtained
a decisive victory over the sugar crust In the
action brought in the New York supreme
court about year ago, and has appeared in
nsday other famous cases of late years
What Gen. Pryor said You ask me If, In
my judgment, the profession OF law is over
crowded. If by overcrowded you mean, are
there more men in the profession than are
earning living by il, answer certainly. In
the city Of New York very large percentage
Of the lawyers are not supported by their
professional incomes exclusively.
The overcrowding, il seems to me, is due to
the attractions of the profession. First, it Il
purely intellectual; second, it affords social
prestige; third, it gives the possibility at
least Of a large income; fourth, 1t opens q
career in politics for the ambitious. should
say that the ratio between the total number
of lawyers and the volume of business was
greater than formerly. The probable out
come is that those who cannot succeed in the
law will betake themselves to some other
means Of livelihood think this will prove
an advantage TO those who do not succeed,
for they will carry into other businesses the
cultivation and requirements obtained in the
study Of the profession. know no better
mental discipline for any vocation in life than
the study of law. Besides, it is well that
nj, cbnnII bou iypn yl lodi
the law.
The fact that the profession is overcrowded
will, Of course, repel some from it. More
over, consider that other professions such
us journalism, civil engineering, architecture,
etc, will invite numbers from the legal pro-
fession. Would |, in view Of these facts, ad-
wise young man not specially qualified for
the profession to enter itl That depends II
he have means sufficient to support him pend
ing the study, would advise him to try it at
all events; but, he have not such means. he
had better betake himself to some other pro-
fession for which he has more obvious apti-
tude and ability.
do not by this by any means intend to ad-
wise a young man Of limited resources against
taking up the study Of law The fact that
his means are limited is almost necessary
condition Of success in the profession, poverty
being the sharpest spur to exertion What
do mean is that man without resource
should not experiment in the profession I'M
less his abilities give him a pretty satisfac-
tory guarantee of success.
The main qualifications Of success at the
bar, and perhaps the all important ones, are
good sense and a capacity for work. Genius
is not at all requisite nor is eloquence. In
my observation, the chief difference between
the successful and the unsuccessful lawyer Is
that the one is industrious and the other not
Given an equality Of abilities, success at the
bar is in the ratio Of mans diligence in
study and work Today in the city of New
York the most successful lawyers are the
most industrious, and the most industrious
are the most successful.
In law, as in all other professions and
trades, the competition is greater now than
heretofore. But, notwithstanding, l would
advise no young man who feels that he has
vocation to the law, and the abilities to sus-
tain himself in it, to turn away from the pro-
fession.
A strong physical constitution might al
most be said to be one Of the requisites OF
successful lawyer, for unless SO endowed the
industrious lawyer can scarcely endure the
strain. There is no more exacting profession
than that of the law and l cannot overrate
the importanceof, and necessity for, constant
work, work, work.
AUSTIN ABBOTT.
Austin Abbott is, probably, the greatest
law compiler and law editor alive. and needs