The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-31

RnIJE cRowELL WHO "IIcKED TON REED.
law court. occasionally. and invariably
found that when he begun a matter he
went thoroughly to the bottom of II.
/ did not have TO overlook the ground
to verify st. That pleased me much, and
gradually j came to have a warm place
in my heart for Tom. He stayed with
me year or more, and won my admira-
ton as a careful, capable student NO
he did not talk politics IN the oiilce; That
was not allowed After the time men
ticncd had elapsed he came 10 me one
day and said that he was going 70 Cali
fornia to try and build mp his fortunes.
Tom was too poor 10 engage q irst-class
passage TO California SO be embarked
on a schooner bound for "a lstnmus Of
PGIama. going I'm the steeraec. IL was
a hard. rough voyage, and very glad the
young man was when IL was over
Going back again i'm 1854 10 Portland
Reed secured an appointment as paymaster
I'm the navy, position he held for about
one year. when, resuming his legal
studies. he was admitted 10 the bar
finally, i'm 1867
lie took in partnership with him a
young man named Smith. the firm being
Smith and Reed. They had little 20 do
Times we're hard and money was scarce.
lie did not remain long with Smith; they
had some MISUNDERSTANDING. the result
Of which was that they parted.
One Of Portland's lawyers says Of Reed
law practice: The first case OF import
ance that j remember Reed had was
homicide affair, involving a drunken
sailor. q woman a bottle of whlskcy. and
several such details. 10 was a plain case
against the sailor, but rom undertook
10 defend him. lie lost the case. IL was,
/ believe, next 10 impossible 20 have won.
The facts against the sailor We're too plan.
1T was difficult for Tom, or any other
young man, 20 make headWey al the
Portland bar in those days. The lines
were closely drawn. the town was then,
as now, very conservative, and il was
hard hoeing for the newcomer. Ola law
yers Gid not form partnerships with
young aspirants, you may be sure"
Tom Reed now was confronted with a
condition which. In one form and another.
has had its Influence on his whole iife
and that was, the Siate-Street COngregl-
Uonal church, and the desire OF Toe women
thereof. who had in part paid his col
legc expenses. tfat be become q minister.
Whatever the religious opinions OF the
youth may have been when be entered
college suffice II 20 say that he came
from Bowdoin fully satisfied In his own
mind that he could not embrace the fuu
ri.
was 10 b. dOne2 He must repay the
money the women had advs reed hicii
he had determined TO DO SO without deiov
Ii was a struggle, but the independent
young man finally conquered Then Torn
sisnited his intention OF Withdrawing
from the CONGREGATIONAL. The upshot
OF the whole matter was that Tom was
one day In folmed that ne had been
cropped from the rolls. or, In other WORDS
ne had oeen, In the language of the mean
poHucipas, who are low enough 10 mako
CAPITAL out Of anything. put out of the
church. II ever you hear the story mar
Tom Reed was put out OF church ., v,,
VIII now know how much weight ~
attach 10 il. ~
IN three years. Tom Reed had aoopired
living practice. Then. one dav fhora
came TO him what has since proven one
OF the opportunities OF a Nfe-tims ne
Gnanee 70 serve his native State in ne
i gislature. Speaking Of TOMS entry into
politics, Judge Webb said TO me.
aid not know much about Tom a. The
tlfne i had been attracted 10 him why
cannot say There was a chance N
sehd him to the Legislature. and | told