Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-24
IN THE MIDDLE WEST.
A Story of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.


this supreme principle rs the handle!
of coarser, commoner things.
The old man crossed his arms on the
table before him. leaned forward ovel
them, shook his head compassionately
and groaned. ''Why, boy" he broke
out. don't you know that the whole
system is to defeat and lam each other
about withP"
John Earring smiled, but said, in his
open, fearless way: That is not my con-
ception of it. 1t may be used more
commonly than l am aware of rs
hurtful weapon, but that is not its le-
ultimate purpose. 1t appeals to me as
u thing not so much to beat and break
with as to help and heal Its province
may often be to restrain. but that need
not make it cruel; it may convey
merited punishment, but tits something
else than law when made a savage in
strument of torture. In its whole
scope, aim and intent can see no
rerminal reason why the man who
handles it should not be honest, and.
indeed, the more upright from contact
with it"
The old attorney looked at him side
wise from where he sat Young
man." he said, ''under your doctrine
of the law where do you think you will
come outP"
John Earring smiled again. al ex-
pect to come out an honest man. l
have heard it intimated that no out
come is of finer kind than that"
You don't go IN to win then?'
"Yes, sir, when i'll the line of JUS
tice; otherwise would not care to-"
Suppose man comes to you who
is guilty and offers you money to de-
fend him, what would you do in such
| q caseP"
.'If satisfied that he was guilty
would not under any circumstances
touch his money or his case"
The old man sighed. 'Well, then.
suppose the man caused you to believe
| him innocent, and when the evidence
was given in court you should become
| convinced that he was guilty, sup
pose you would simply help the other
fellows get verdict"
IL should certainly not make an APP
peal before the jury in the guilty per-
sons defense. Why. sir" and John
Earring got up and walked about in
his sad, passionate way. 'it should not
be lawyers business to defeat the
law. 1t is absurd, nay, more than
that. it is criminal! How can man
respect himself or hold himself
blamelcss. who, by shrewdnesS.
chicancry, cloquencc, or by any other
use of his best or mcaueSt gifts. sue
ccedS in restraining the law, which
through him should bo helped to sue
cessful operation, and thus turn loose
| again a thief or murderer TO prey
upon his fcllowsP BY what light shall
n man look into the eyes of his own
conscience and seem worthy of its APP
| prevail who succeeds in beating back
one who is trying to get Justice. or
| fastens wrong upon one who is at
tempting to throw it off? In my opin-
ion no consideration of dollars and
cents can make it right, nor should any
Tenderness for name. fame, friends or
prospects persuade II man from putting
his foot squarely upon it.
The old lawyer shook his head.
You sop us up! wipe us out!' he
laughed. 'Why, there would soon be
nothing for us TO do! We have to keep
the pot hot and full of confusion. boy!
Doctors and lawyers are most in clover,
YOU know, when others are in trouble.
No, no; we can't turn SaviorS of men
unless our ranks get thinner than they
are now"
"WcH, presume number could be
spared and the world not find it .
catastrophe, said John Earring, dryly.
"Right you are, right you are said
the old lawyer, getting UP and begin
ming to put on his great coat to 60
home. John Earring helped him with
it, and the old man said, rs he thrust
his grizzly chin up in the air to fastrn
the throat-button: well, my expert
encc has simply been that the law is q
mill to grind fools in. A kind of dew
ilish perpetual motion, you know; in
visible buzz-saw; slow. but sure. stran-
gulation, or something like that Don,
| think a man could conduct a case sue
ce$sfully with hymn in his heart and
5 Bible in his hand A man might be
honest ut it. perhaps. but he would be
such an unspeakable wonder tina
> lightnin' wouldn't 60 near him, much
less man with case"
John Earring laughed. He knew the
old LAWYERS mental habits too we'll t.
think that he had exposed more thar
one side of his sentiments. The young
mans face kept its undampcncd glow
as he said: II suspicion that the colo
of the law depends very much upon thu
high or low altitude from which on'
views it. For my own part if can no
be manly, generous and just, if cal
not be honest and upright and of un
questioned service to my fellows,
shall quit the law and go to tilling The
ground. A man can certainly be hon
, est behind n plow?'
. ..Snum me! but doubt it!' said tn
old lawyer. as he went out.
John Earling lit the gas with smile
| on his face and sat down and went t.
work. and the old attorney. passin!
down the cold street in the gatherins
: shadows with his head very low in tn
great collar of his coat, muttered: alt
hair and no mistake. but snum me,
it amt rs fine us spiders beard!''
CHAPTER XIV.
Thereafter the old lawyers eyes wer