The Yellowstone journal., 1894-11-22
LAW AND LAWYERS.
A PROFESSION IN WHICH MANY ARE
CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.

risters-How Literature sDnd Politics Ar
feet the lawyers Prospeets-He Need
Not Necessarily he a Rascal.
MIR. Richard Devereux Doyle, prom
inent member of the Norfolk bar,
contributes to 1no .,o-...>Il Maga-
zine an article entitled MY impress
sions of Law and Lawyers " which will
prove very interesting TO laymen as |
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 Junior |
Barrister, by the brilliant Richard !
Lalor Shiel, as embodying the early ex-
periences of many hopeful ana talented !
young lawyers.
How many" says Mr.. Doyle, have
passed through similar course vi study
ud preparation, perhaps graduating
in the humanities as well as the law,
bearing away the prize for elocution
and oratory at some of our great lnsu-
tutions of learning How many have
thonght that such talents az theirs were
sure to command early ii not immedi-
ate success, and, alasi how many have
been disappointed" differing, it may
be added, in this respect from Shlel,
who passed safely through the derresS-
ing period of waiting and probation
which tries the soul of the ordinary
legal neophyte, and who won the dis
tinction of which be had dreamed at
the outset of his career.
MANY of this grand army of the dis
appointed fail, Mr.. Doyle thinks, not
because they are 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 calculate N" Of the youth
full aspirant. Youth, for one thing, us
too sanguine and expects too much.
Some fail because of their bad personal
habits; some by inf N health and too
hard study and conf ne,Hent are stricken
down, like poor XII K White, when life
is in its spring. some are not polite
enough to WOO the world, hut hold
proudly aloof, trusting TO their talents
and knowledge, while the busy world
goes bustling by without stopping TO
hook at their credentials. Some stray
into the pleasant and fiowery paths of
literature and some into the seductive
field of politics.
"A literary reputation, Mr. Doyle
declares, lis perhaps more dangerous
shan a political one, especially if one is
given. like Mr.. Wegg, to dropping into
poetry The age il too practical for a
successful combination of law and liter
asure. A lawyer may and should be
cultivated, but he must not be known
As u litterateur or poet Nor will II
DO for the young lawyer to seek to make
himself known by going into politics.
To do so lis risky venture for one
who intends to make law the profession
of lifetime, and even a reputation fol
political oratory is OF little if any bene
fit to lawyer. The public soon come
90 regard him as politician and may
be willing TO vote with him or for him
bat not to give him business. "
Turning from the causes of failure e
the qualities important TO what Is ordl
narily deemed success, Mr.. Doyle sum
marizes them as follows: Love of th'
profession and evident desire to ge
business and attention to il when IL
hand; industry and the appearance o
industry and good native sense, with al
aggressive and partisan temperament
Fluency of speech, eloquence of dictiol
and genuine oratorical talent are use
full. but not essential " This partisan
and aggressive spirit, which is akin Z
what Lord Bacon calls "boldness, Mr.
Doyle considers a particularly impor
tant element of success. Men hire
lawyers as the expression is among Tn
ta fbair hnSlnaSZ
TO fight their battles, right or wrong
and the lawyer who goes into cas-
thoroughly imbued with the client
feelings, believing or making bellev
that he is certainly right and the othe
party an unmitigated rascal, is sure
please.
As to the ethical side of the law, MI
DOYLE admits that much may be sal
pro and CON One Of the demoralizin
features of the profession is that .
lawyer cannot choose his cases. II
is sometimes ON tle. wrong side, tn
side of falsehood and injustice, an
when on the wrong side there Is a
most irresistible temptation to EXPIRE;
belief in the justice Of his cause, an
lawyers too often yield to ii, thus gi'
ing some ground for the popular accu
sation that lawyers lie for their clients.
After all, whether ''the law is a mob
and elevating profession" "depent
upon the man" There is nothing in ii
nature of his profession which compels
lawyer to be rascal 1t has its tenn
tations, but so has every other busines
Many hard things have been said I
lawyers, but the account is nearly ba
anced by the complimentary things th'
they have said of themselves and |
their profession. Sir Edward Col
speaks of 'the gladstone light of juri
prudence, and lack Of self appreci
ton is not in general one of the defec
Of the disciples of the law They hav
however, the consolation Of KNOWN
that in spite Of all the abuse to whit