The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1894-10-12
LAW AND LAWYERS.
A Profession IN WHICH MANY ARE
CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.

risters-hOW Lltftaiuft huu 'ph'iNs NJ I
feet the Lawyers Prospects-He Need !
Nat Necessarily Bo a Rascal.
Mr.. Richard Devereux Doyle, prom
inent member of the Norfolk bar,
contributes to The Southern Maga-
zine an article entitled my Im1res-
sions of Law and Lawyers, which will
prove very interesting to laymen az
well as to members Of the legal pro-
fession. Mr.. Doyle discusses his theme
instructively, entertainingly and with
judicial impartiality and candor He
refers to the Confessions of a Junior
Barrister, by the brilliant Richard
Lalor Shiel, as embodying tho early ex-
perionces Of many hopeful and talented
young lawyers.
"How many" says Mr.. Doyle, "have
passed through similar course Of study
and preparation, perhaps graduating
in the humanities as well as tho law,
bearing away the prize for elocution
and oratory Mt some of our great insti-
tutions of learniugl How many have
Thought that such talents as theirs were
sure TO command early if not immedi-
ate success, and, alasl bow many have
been disappointed" differing. it may
be added, in this respect from Shiol,
who passed safely through the depress-
ing period of waiting and probation
which tries the soul of the ordinary
legal neophyte, and who won the dis
tinction of which no had dreamed at
the outset of his career.
Many Of this grand army Of the dis.
appointed fail, Mr.. Doyle thinks, not
because they arc lacking in genuine
talent" which is frequently of high
order" but because there are so many
other elements that should but do not
enter into the calculation" Of the youth.
full aspirant Youth, for one thing, ''is
too sanguine and expects too much.
Some fail because Of their bad personal
habits; some by infirm health and too
| hard study and confinement are stricken
down, like poor Kirk White, when life
| is in its spring. some are not polite
enough to WOO the world, but hold
| proudly aloof, trusting to their talents
and knowledge, while tho busy world
goes bustling by without stopping to
| look at their credentials. Some stray
into the pleasant and flowery paths of
literature and some into the seductive
field of politics.
"A literary reputation, Mr.. Doyle
declares, ''is perhaps more dangerous
than political one, especially IL one is
given, like MIR. Wegg, to dropping into
poetry. Tho age is too practical for u
successful combination of law and liter
ature. A lawyer may and should I've
cultivated, but he must not he known
as n litteratcur or poot. Nor will il
do for the youug lawyer to seok to make
himself known by going into politics.
To do so ''is risky venture for one
who intends TO make law tho profession
OF lifetime, and even reputation for
political oratory is Of little ii any benc-
fit to lawyer, The public soon conc
to regard him as n politician and may
be willing to vote with him or for him,
but not TO give him business -
Turning from tho causes Of failure t.
tho qualities important to what is ordi.
narily deemed success, Mr.. Doyle sum.
marizcs them as follows: Love of the
profession and evident desire to get
business and attention TO it when III
hand; industry and tho appearance OF
industry and good native sense, with an
aggressive and partisan temperament.
Eluency of speech, eloqueEco of diction
and genuine oratOrical talent arc use
full, but not essential" A" This partisan
and aggressive spirit, which is akin tc
what Lord Bacon calls "boldness, " Mr..
I nCNln 0nnginarS "a avlx
tant element of success. "Men hire
lawyers, as the expression is among the
people, to attend to their business and
to tlEit their battles, right or wrong,
and the lawyer who goes into case
thoroughly imbucd with tho clients
feelings, believing or making believe
that he is certainly right and the other
party an unmitigated rascal, is sure tc
please. "
AS to the ethical side of the law, Mr..
Doyle admits that much may bo said
pro and con. One of tho demoralizipg
features of the profession is that "a
lawyer cannot choose his cases. " He
is sometimes ON the wrong side, the
side of falsehood and injustice, and
when ON the wrong side there is al.
most irresistible temptation TO express
belief i'll the justice Of his cause, and
lawyers too often yield TO it. thus Civ
ing some ground for the popular accu.
sation that lawyers lie for their clients. -
After all, whether "the law is a noble
and elevating profession" depends
upon the man" There is nothing in the
nature Of his profession which oompels a
lawyer to be rascal. 1t has its temp
tations, but so has every other business.
Many hard things have been said OF
lawyers, but the account is nearly bal
anoed by the complimentary things that
they have said of themselves and OF
their profession. Sir Edward Coke
speaks of 'the 81 lidsome light of juris-
prudence. " and lack of self approcia.
tion is not in general one of the defects
Of the disciples of the law. They have,
Z hnxVavar tho consolation nf lnoxyino q