The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-11-02
Judge Rowell to the Young Attorneys.

Following is the very admirable address
of Judge Rowell to the young men who re-
Gently passed the examination and were adj
mitted to the practice of law in Vermont:
Young Men,-We congratulate you on
your safe passage through the Red Sea of
your examination, and that you have at last
reached the shore where you can sing the
song of deliverance We welcome you TO
the fellowship of an ancient and honorable
profession, one that in modern times, and
among English.speaking people, has taken
a most conspicuous part in the formation of
governments and the establishment and
maintenance of civil liberty. The domain
upon which you have entered is vast. IL is
as broad as the human intellect can com
pass. 1t extends to the ultima thule OF hui
man affairs. 1t is diversified in climate and
soil, in hill and dale, in highlands and low
lands, and capable of great possibilities.
But the lowlands are comparatively lean.
Be not content to dwell therein. Make the
highlands the object of your ambition, and
thither straightway bend your steps, for
there lies the Promised Land, there, milk
and honey flow; there the grapes of Eschol
grow; but there also the sons of Anak dwell.
But consider not yourselves as grasshoppers
compared with them; for although you can
not drive out the giants, you can force
Joint possession with them. But the ascent
is difficult; the way is beset with pleas in
abatement and pleas in bar; rejoinders and
surrejoinders rebutters and surrebutters;
issues, general and special; possessions, adj
verse and perverse; entails and fees-not
for services; trusts and nliStrusts; construc-
lions and interpretations; lapse of time and
of legacies; doubts, reasonable and unreal
sonable. Although these things cannot be
removed, they can be overcome; for nothing
is impossible to industry.
Now, to equip yourselves Tor this war
fare, first of all take the shield Of moral and
professional honesty. 1t will be to you like
the shield Of Achilles, and without 1t you
cannot hope to succeed. Take the helmet
of the law; for, according to the motto OF
Lord Coke, chosen when he gave rings,
that is the safest helmet. Put on the san
dals of ample preparation, without which
you cannot run well the race set before you.
Give your days and nights to the funda-
mental principles of the law; for they are
rooted and grounded in truth and justice,
and are coming more and more to control
the disposition of cases. Indeed l look for
the time when all technicality not promo
tive of justice shall be done away, and
cases left to stand on their true merits.
This would relieve the law of much Of the
criticism now bestowed upon 1t.
But be not too DESTROYS of much reading,
thinking thereby to be made wise, for few
books well digested are better than many
books merely devoured. In a general prac-
tice you need to range the whole field OF
the law, but do it with Judgment and dis.
erection. Law books have become so nu-
m6rOuS tndJ one Is IN danger OF DeCOlnluB Il
mere case-hunter, and Of losing or of never
acquiring, the power Of perceiving the pre-
cision and substantial truth of legal dis
tinctions. The time has come when CLASH
fcation of cases must be resorted to, and
the assignment of the case in hand to its
proper class az the surest means of reach
ing correct results; and the lawyer who can
do this best is the best lawyer,
Cultivate the art of easy talking, and the
graces of a correct speech Learn to en-
ploy the language Of the law, and in it to
discuss propositions with precision, omit
ting unimportant matters, many of which
often adhere to a case. Set before you the
! best examples in these respects; for, as
Bacon says, imitation is a globe of pre-
cepts." Be true to your client. Guard well
| his secrets, entrusted to you in confidence.
| Subserve his interest to the full limit of
! your duty, but not beyond. Avoid incon-
sistent employment, for no man can serve
! two masters. Be observant of correct pro
fessional department.. both in court and out
of court Men will observe you and judge
the profession somewhat by you. Maintain
its standard high. Forget not that you are
officers of the court, bound by an oath to dc
no falsehood, nor to consent that any be
done, in court; to promote no false nor I'M
| lawful suit; to delay no man for lucre or
malice; to act with all good fidelity as well
to the court as to your client. Without de-
tanning you longer, we bid you good-speed.