The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-06

hility on him to say something apprecl-
alive when the story was over; something
worthy OF the school. 1t had seemed a
most improbable story to him, although he
did not doubt Mr.. Marshal1s word: and he
Kept trying to reconcile his disorderly and
violent proceeding with the quiet argument
of moot cases, which meant to him the
practice of the law; but he could only do
SO by remembering that his story was told
of the code-ridden State of New York, and
under the Tammany regime.
Il presume he said mcdestly, while the
undergraduates all listened, that you
couldn't do that in cofnmon-law State
like Massachusetts. OF course, I'm not ia
miliar with your code; but / should have
thought you would have had great diff
Guilty in nding authority for all that sort
of thing n the reports, even there"
fu miISrsn ana 81 laughed 81 loud and cheer err
SLOUGH hat, from which the rain was drip
pins, and over his turned-up collar. He
knew he was bluShing, in spite of the dark
and wet, and it made him feel young and
uncomfortable.
You'll not look at the reports much for
the first few years you practice" said
Marshall, "a; you'll be around doing
things
How doing things? asked the law stu
dent vaguely.
'Oh, replevining a lot of steam boilers
or going about in the tenements hunting
for the heirs of a dead depositor in a saw
inSs bank; or sitting all day in court, wait
ing to answer number forty-seven on the
motion calendar; or comparing proof on an
appeal book with the stenogra pher. You
won't read many cases for the first four or
five years you practice-unless you get into
large office. where they put you to MAX
ing up briefs-tnen you'll never do any
thing else"
But asked the younger man. strange
fession, isn't all the practice of law based
on decisions-on principles of law?"
Certainly, certainly. You must know
those first. Next you must interpret given
facts b. the light of them-so as to know,
for instance, whether the interchange of
two or three business letters makes a con-
hpn mos INN ont Of oil
must know how to act on those facts so
neutrality-suspicious. it is wiser to brighten
1t Is wiser to enforce or extend payment
of the notes of failing house. You must
understand what is involved in commercial
transactions and how to handle men. Lots
OF attorneys know all about the rules of
law and even how to interpre. facts by
legal rules The rare men are the men who
know what to do after they have done that
the men of action and of accomplishment
BESIDES, in making what we call an all
round lawyer, not only is every kind of
knowledge useful. but in some situations
technical knowledge may be as valuable
as as the cases themselves; proficiency in
bookkeeping, for instance. Did you ever
READ now Sam Tuden smashed the Tweed
Rlng! knowledge of expert bookkeeping
that, as much as knowledge of legal rules ;;
BUT persisted the younger man, con-
FUSED and unconvtnced, Il don't see but
did mean, it doesn't seem to me that If
needed lawyer particularly to do that
les, Fepled the older man, ANY one
could have done it. perhaps only the law
yer learns and adopts instant action where
Ine unframed man hesitates. Most of a
lawyers work only requires Judgment a nd
decision-hfs technical knowledge of law he
really uses more seldom than common
sense tact and pluck. Besides these things
sober habits, methodical ways, and a big
Strong body like yours tell more than a
cum laude without them
see, murmured the big guard still
unable to conceive of any one attaching
sucn apparently slight Importance to those
great cases in the discussion of which the
schooi was wholly engrossed. He Won
dered whether the practice of the law had
degenerated in New York or whether the
school did not teach all there was Of it.
He felt bewtldered. and almost a little
shocked. Nevertheless, as the team came
swinging into the square, past the lights of
the shops, ana as the men he met pro-
Iessprs students, and trades people, all
recognized him, in spite of his turned-up
collar and dripping hat, and took pains to
speak TO him, with evidences of esteem
ana fr1endiiness; as be looked back upon
MS seven years of manly. self-respecting
Industrious life at the University and the
steady growth of this personal esteem for
him. and his ability to turn it to good ends
ne felt sudden consolation in the idea
that here. perhaps. he possessed qualities
OF usefulness and success in his profession
which he had hitherto failed to estimate
When, IN despair at not understanding GER
tam stiff cases under discussion in class
Ceases, by the way. which had puzzled
chancellors of England before him D he
had concluded, that he was almost born
fool. and that his study of the law was a
failure
-Holyoke Howes, in New York Post