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.

Dimculties which Confront Young bar
risters--H How Literature and Politics Al
feet the lawyers Prospects-He Mead
Not Necessarily ne q Rascal.
Mr.. Richard Devereux Doyle, q prom
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 TO the Confessions of 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, ''haTe
passed through q similar course of study
and preparation, perhaps graduating
in the humanities as well as the law.
bearing away the prize for elocution
and oratory at some Of our great insti-
tutions OF learningi How many have
thought that such talents as theirs were
sure TO command early IL not immedi-
ate success, and, alasl how many have
been disappnintedp differing. it may
be added, in &his respect from Shiei.
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 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 80 many
other elements that should but do not
enter into the calculation" of the youth.
full aspirant. Youth, for one thing, sis
too sangnine 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 politic
enough to WOO the world, but hold
proudly aloof, trusting to their talents
and knowledge, while the busy world
goes bustling by without stopping to
look at their credentials. {" Some stray
into the pleasant and flowely paths of
literature and some into the seductive
field OF politics.
literary reputation, = Mr.. Doyle
declares. lis perhaps more dangerous
than political one. especially Ii one is
given. like Mr.. Wegg, to dropping into
poetry. The age is too practical for q
.successful combination OF law and liter
|ature. A lawyer may and should be
Hcultivated, but he must not be known
as litterateur or poet. /" Nor will it
] do for the young lawyer 10 seek to make
himself known by going into politics.
TO do SO SIS risky venture for one
who intends to make law the profession
pf lifetime, and even reputation for
political oratory is Of little il amy bene-
to q lawyer. The public soon come
regard Kim as q politician and may
willing to vote with him or for him,
not 10 give him business.
Turning from the causes of failure to
= qualities important to what Is ordi-
arily deemed success, Mr. Doyle sun /.
aarizes them % follows: Love OF the
pfession and evident desire 20 get
~ ~ 3 Z II =