The Irish standard., 1896-12-19
q 10 4 ! u

! Nj, IA
llnd this one TOO IS q woman and
Bright One.
Mrs. Ella Knowles Haskell, prominent
ly identified with the bar OF Montana
and ex-assistaEt attorneysgeneral Of ,tha
state, was a guest at the Nicollet house
recently. She was spending few days
in thu Twin Cities on legal business, AND
remained until the first OF the week Be
fore she returned to her home at Helena
{ Mrs. Haskell removed to Montana from
her native state, New Hampshire, in
1883, graduating from an Eastern college
The state law at that time denied women
admission to the bar, but with great
pluck she drew up a bill providing for
a new regime, and secured its passage
through the legislature the following
session. She was admitted to the bar in
1890, and has since been in active prac-
tice, with the exception Of one year, when
she was confined to her home through
injuries received in a carriage accident
In 1892 she was the nominee ofsthe Popu-
lists for the Office of encouragement
hut was defeated by the Republicans, al
though she ran 5000 votes ahead Of her
ticket, With true chiyalry her oppo-
nent rendered her the position of assis.
tant, which was accepted, The sequel
Of. the romance was their marriage at
San Francisco last year. IL s
The career OF the plucky woman has
beenEattended with signal success. Dur
ing the, two years which she has held
office she personally conducted many in
trcate details of the Office, and prosecut-
edathe criminals In the courts. She says
she likes that branch of the work, and
the care and attention bestowed on 1t
bears out that assertion. She has q
law Office in Butte, where the greater
part of her business is done, and resides
with her husband in Helena.
" Mrs. Haskell is a pleasant featured,
mild-mannered woman, slightly below
the average member of her sex in physi-
cal stature. A casual survey of her per-
son fails to impress one with that ex-
traordinary' determination and signal
ability which is Immediately seen when
she talks. In manner she is easy and
quiet, and there is an impression Of RE-
serve more characteristic of the brighter
lights Of the Eastern bar. Quick and
incisive in thought, with a marvellous
fund of general knowledge unusual to
her sex, there is impaired to her con-
versation an interest and charm in its
nature pleasing and instructive. She
has all the enthusiasm of the people of
her state, but discreetly checks it except
when dilating upon the glorious POSSIBLE
tiles of that country and the roseate hue
of it's future.
Montana has come to be regarded
throughout the East as dependent al
most entirely upon her silver interests, .
she said to Tribune reporter. General
credance was given this error in the late
political campaign. I regard the stock
interests of the state as paramount to
those of silver. Then the recent OPEN
ing of the Confederate gulch has resulted
in extensive prospecting being made for
gold, and in that line there are remark
able opportunities awaiting energy and
ability. The people were greatly en-
Unused with the free silver doctrine, but
accept the result with good sense and
quietness. We believe with Mr.. Bryan
that the efforts for the success Of the
movement should be continued during
the time e1apsing between the elections,
and this is being done by the distribution
of literature. B r have failed to find that
bitterness of feeling for the East which
is said to exist in Montana and the West:
.What would be my advice to members
of my sex in regard to entering the legal
profession? would say to any one so
inclined; that if she fully makes up her
mind to do some hard work, pass by
many Oh Lue pleeSuA CD VI AAAS' oAA" Wv ~
her time with care and attention to the
work, 60 ahead and take it up. But there
must be an unreulitting and untiring
delying into the intricacies Of the pro-
fession. If woman is a great orator,
it does not, follow she will be a success
at the bar. She must be able to prepare
briefs, and lay her case plainly and con-
cisely before Judge and jury. / like the
trial by jury"
Mrs. Haskell was enthusiastic in her
praise of the natural beauty OF Mime
apolis, and was greatly impressed with
the magnitude of it's industries.
I'm m cullEE