The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-10-29
LAW AND LAWYERS.
A PROFESSION IN WHICH MANY ARE
CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.

Difficulties which Confront Young bar
risters-How Literature and Politics AT
feet the lawyers Prospects-He Need
Not Necessarily BE q Rascal.
Mr. Richard Deyereux Doyle. APRON
inent member Of the Norfolk bar,
contributes to The Southern Maya
zine an article entitled my Impress
sions OF Law and Lawyers, which win
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 70 the Confessions of a Junior
Barrister, by the brilliant Richard
Lalor Shiel as embodying the early ex-
periences Of many hopeful and talented
young lawyers
How many" says Mr.. Doyle, have
passed through a similar course of study
and preparation, perhaps graduating
in the hunanities as well as the Law.
bearing away the prize for elocution
and oratory at some Of great insti-
buttons Of learningi How many have
thought that such talents as theirs were
sure to command early If not immedi-
ate success, and, alasi how many have
been disappointedr' differing. it may
be added, in khis respect from Shiel.
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 he had dreamed Mt
the outset of his career.
Many of this grand army Of the dis
appointed fail, Mr.. Doyle thinks, mot
because they are lacking in genuine
talent which is frequently of a high
order" but because there are 80 many
other elements that should but do not
enter into the calculation" of the youth
full aspirant. Youth. for one thing, sis
too sanguine and expects too much.
Some fail because of their bad personal
habits; some by infirm health and too
hard study end 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 the busy world
goes bustling by without stopping I o
look 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, sis perhaps more dangerous
than a political one, especially il one Is,
given, like Mr.. Wegg, to dropping into
poetry. The age il too practical for q
successful combination OF law and liter
allure. A lawyer may and should be
cultivated, but he must not be known
as q litterateur O . poet" Nor will it
do for the young lawyer to seek to make
himself known by going into politics.
To do so lis q risky venture for one
who intends to make law the profession
of q lifetime, and even q reputation for
political oratory is Of little if amy bene-
at to . lawyer. The public soon come
70 regard kim as o politician and may
be willing to vote with him or for him,
but not to give him business"
Tuning from the causes of failure Co
the qualities important to what Ia ordi-
narilly deemed success, Mr.. Doyle sum
marizes them as follows: Love OF the
profession and evident desire 10 get