The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-06
INGERsoLL's CHANGE OF BASE.
Stories of His Early Appearance in
New York Courts.
From Nc Chlcago Tlmes-Herald.


From the Chicago Times Herald.
The story Of Col Robert G. Ingersolr 3
retirement from the active practice OF law
has been expected for some time. When
he removed from his Peoria home some
years ago to New York he signalzed his
advent into the eastern metropolis by en-
tering the court rooms of Manhattan Is
land and Brooklyn with the exuberance Of
a boy fresh from college. lie arose early
in the mornings and long before wagons
began drowning other noises along VIII
liam street he could be found in his office.
Often did he burn the midnight oil so late
as to give the slanting shadows Of the
carly morning sun "A chance to take its
place. His great reputation as an orator
had preceded him and his residence In
New York was of less duration than two
months before his fees grew apace with
those Of Rufus N. Choate, Elihu Root
and william NJ. Evarts. At first he en-
loved his new surroundings The change
of scenery so different from the agrestie
prairies OF Peoria seemed charming. New
friends sprang up around him as quickly
as do the buds of dogwood trees give birth
to blooms when An April shower falls
upon them. Lawyers babe him welcome
tcning ears
ITo was soon the guest OF millionaires;
theu Inc Joined downtown clubs and so on.
Before he had been in New York a year
his was a well known figure la the Wall
street cafes. clubs. and all the big court
rooms Of the island. Then In an ecstatic
moment he sold his Illinois home and
bought a residence IN Harlem. His house
became q resort for the merry and the
light OF heart. Money fairly leapcd into
his iap. His law Offices at - william
street were througed with clerks and as
siatant attorneys. The newspapers had
something 90 say about him every day,
and for awhile he swept things before him
became tho leading lion, as IL were-just
as a French actress becomes the only real
star as soon as the shin bearing her to-
ward American soil passes Fire ISLAND.
But the real big lawyers "snubbed" him
for some reason on other saying that be
WAS superficial lacked judgment and
that his only virtue lay IN the fact that he
possessed a musical voice. that his ges-
lures were graceful and his rhetoric and
dictiou superby elegant. That and Moth
ing else. Col. Ingersoll soon had 'neu-
traiity" case 10 try n came up for argu-
mont before the supreme court at WASH
ineton. and two Of the New York attor-
news who had failed to receive the colonel
with that warmth OF cordiality that
makes a man feel welcome were In tho
court room at the time of the trial. IT
was col. lngersolra first neutrality
case. and as he arose 20 address the court
nc appeared M at ease He had talked
for an hour perhaps when he said:
"Nay 1t please the court to correct me "
/ proceed wrongly In this case. 1t Is my
tirst one Of such character, and If my pro-
cedure be not IN lire with the way such
cases are usually presented ] beg the
court. to inform me-
without moments hesitation Chief
Justice waite said to him: Proceed, sir
proceed. The court ig learning from YOU"
From that moment his ability az o law