Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1894-03-30


being foreclosures, were disposed
of. This leaves the chancery
docket almost entirely wanting
there remaining on it less thar
half a dozen cases and those in
volving no contentious, but KEPT
on the docket simply for conven
fence in completing the entries
In a county somewhat isolated
as is ours its county courts al
ways have been and are now by
the people regarded as a domes
tic institution in which the people
generally have much interest and
pride, being reluctant to have
any legal business taken out o.
the county, especially the holding
of the supreme court elsewhere
and 80 they naturally look upon
the coming of a new judge with
feelings akin to those of a boy
attending school the first day
under a new master. But Judge
Thompson, this being his first
term here, before the first days
work was through, seemed to bt
in the confidence of everybody as
much as though he had been tC
the manor born. His quiet in
cisive discipline, his quick direc
ton of the work, his careful hear
ing and consideration of every
thing that anybody desired tc
present soon made every one fee
at ease, while his manner inspired
perfect respect.
We heard it remarked that the
docket was running down anC
soon there would be no court al
all. This was said as though We
were getting into an undesirable
condition of things and as though
the Importance of egalinvestiga
tons was coming to be under
rated, and moved by this w,
made the enquiry of a legal gen
tleman, What will poor lawyer:
do now? He replied the deca
dence of the docket does not nee
essarily indicate a diminution o
prosperity in the profession; tn,
fact is that the work is getting
to be done outside the court
room. The time was when tn,
court house was necessary ven
tilator to get rid of the passion:
of men; and they found vent il
elimination and recrimination
and in noisy defamation. Il
was a sort of an outlet for tn,
driving out of bad passions, {
means Of passing off mental bile
But now they sit down in littl,
groups before a Master or Refere'
and carefully settle upon thu
facts and conditions of contro
versies; these are put in tn,
form of brief and comprehensive,
statements, and those formula.
are submitted to the courts which
declare the results after applying
the law to the facts. To tn,
noise and clamor and persona
contacts of litigants and thcil
adherentS has succeeded a carefu
and candid examination ant
finding of the exact facts, condi
tons and wants of each case
The people find that THERE'S great
security in this because whoever
is called to participate in thes,
examinations depends upon tn,
skiIlful and faithful manner il
which each performs his duty
and the parties interested are III
immediate contact with the
work and can judge of the work
so as to be competent to select
the best workers. In this degen
crate age the necessity of gooe
work is strong enough induce
ment to do good work even i
honesty was not required, al
though integrity and independ
ence are by no means undesirable
Besides this, men employ law
yers now to advise in relation t.
their business and manner o.
conducting it much more thar
formerly. They are beginning to
learn that it is much better
more economical, to expend {
little to keep out of trouble thar
much to get out. The Office worl
of lawyers is increasing, ane
where a large class of lawyer.
received one dollar for advic,
they are now receiving ten O,
more, and their clientage are bet
ter satisfied. So that it seem.