St. Paul daily globe., 1894-06-24

proposition. The present incumbent. 1t
is charged. has devoted more time to in-
ventions and securing patents than to
his public duties. AT the same time. il
he is competent. he will not be shut out
by an examination. That is the only
fair way to make the selection.
REWARDS OF PROFESSIONAL
MEN.
An occasional paragraph in the news
papers mentioning the receipt of an
extraordinary fee by lawyer or ply
Sician or other professional man leads
to the erroneous impression in many
minds that the learned professions are
highways to wealth and renown. The
majority of men believe that the re.
wards of effort are very unequally dis
tributed, and that the men who belong
to the learned professions receive far
more than their share. And in making
plans for the future of his sons the aver
age citizen eiects that one, at least,
shall enter upon career that promises
distinction. This has resulted in the
overcrowding of the professions to
degree. with the result that we find
doctor for every dozen patients, a law
yer for every litigant, and half dozen
preachers for every pulpit.
Every large city contains scores of
lawyers who seldom see the inside of
couIt room in the way of business, and
physicians who rarely see case of
sickness. The majority of these men
are learned, capable and industrl-
Gus, but if they hope to succeed
| they are compelled to toll and struggle
! for years. poorly requited for their serv
i ices, enduring hardships, rebuffs and
| disappointments ere they reach the po-
sition where they can command their
own price for their services, and find
| those services in constant request.
There are scores of lawyers who have
more clients than they can attend to;
there are scores of doctors who have
more patients than they can care for
| properly. Every man who has griev-
ance to redress at law seeks the Serv-
ices of an attorney who has achieved
high standing at the bar; every person
afflicted with slight bodily ailment ap-
plies to the most eminent physician of
| the fee demanded. no matter how large,
| with cheerfulness, if not alacrity
Meantime there are hundreds of poor
lawyers, we'll versed in the profession,
VINO are sitting in their lonesome Offices
waiting for something to show up. but
waiting in vain. And there are physi-
clans, skillful and learned, who sit
glOomily at their windows watching
their more fortunate brethren dash by
in their carriages to the homes of the
wealthy.
But do the successful physicians, and
lawyers, and clergymen, and literary
and dramatic writers receive more than
their Just reward? Few of them become
wealthy; still less number attain a
competence; the vast majority of those
who achieve distinction are only in
moderate financial circumstances, and
are compelled to labor constantly to
maintain their social position and keep
grim want at bay. And, as a rule, they
receive no larger reward than those en-
gagged i'll other occupations. The cost of
fitting a young man for one of the
learned professions is rarely taken into
account by the unthinking. ae must
spend four years at college to obtain the
general knowledge essential to the i'll
telljgent performance of his duties. If
he inte lids to enter the law he must in
addition attend law school and Sc
rleS OF lectures on legal themes; if a
doctor, he must study at medical
school, and inform himself thoroughly
on the mechanism of the human body,
be well versed in pathology. and an ex-
pert in mental phenomena as bearing
upon physical disorders; if a clergy
man. he must attend theological SEM
mary and inform himself as to all dog
mas and creeds, all doctrines and here
sizes, all revelation and superstition.
Years of time are consumed, and much
money expended, in preparation for a
professional life. OF this the general
public take no account. And vet it is
as legitimate an outlay as is the ex.
penditure merchant makes for a stock
of goods.
"A young man can be fitted for CON-
mercial pursuits at a far less cost than
is necessary to fit him for professional
career, and it requires far less effort
and patience to achieve success. The
quality called enterprise is not essential
in the professions, but learning, clear
judgment. quick comprehension,
knowledge of men and their peculiari-
ties. both physical and mental, are of
prime importance. The man who sur
mounts all difficulties. and by patience,
skill and acuinen makes name for him.
self. deserves the emoluments he re-
ceiveS. There are few professional men
who are paid too much for their services,
1t has cost them dearly to qualify them
selves for the positions they occupy, and
few right-minded people will begrudge
them either the honor or the compen-
sarion they have won.
MISTER MCCARDY, at a late hour last
NIGHT ,iS inf 70 III, RI