The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-25
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BY HENRY JAMES.

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| One of my ambitions is to see a lot
of lawyers Of a certain sort sent to jail.
OF course there are many respectable
lawyers. This makes more surprising
the fact that there are other lawyers
who are scamps, scoundrels, bunko
steerers, who know nothing of law ex-
cept to evade it, who have clients only
to fleece them. Are these precious con-
fidence operators under the protection
of the Bar Association? If SO, what is
the claim of this association to dig
nifty and standing? I am led to ask
these questions by news item con-
corning Brunette G. Haskell, attorney
at law. Perhaps Haskell has been mis-
represented. 1 do not pretend to say.
But If he has not, he should be prac-
ticing at the jute mill. The item sets
forth that Haskell undertook case for
woman; that the case was decided
by default against her, and that Has
kell then sent word to the contrary,
and that he must have 50 so in order to
enter the successful Judgment. The
woman sent him the money, at least
SO her allegation sets forth, and soon
after swore to a complaint for his ar
rest on a charge of petty larceny by
trick and device. have observed
nothing as to the serving of warrant,
but If the charge is true, society is
wronged SO long as Haskell remains at
large. The legal fraternity owes to
itself the duty of freeing it's ranks from
the presence Of black leg shysters. Has
kell may not be one of these, but there
are others. The Police Court practi-
TONERS who prowl about the City Jail
looking for prey are morally on lower
scale than the DRINKS and Migrants
whom they rob. They ought to be ex-
terminated.
There has grown up a bad habit of
speaking i'll of the Tennessee soldier in
general. That there is no warrant for
this is understood by all who have been
brought into personal relations with
the men of that regiment. For in
stance, here is a short storv: The other
day lady entered street car. When
she came to pay her fare she was en-
barrassed by the discovery that her
smallest coin was a twenty-dollar
piece. The conductor, unable or un-
willing to change it, told her that she
the information rudely. The lady
blushed and prepared to obey the or
der. Up rose a soldier who had been
sitting in the corner. He smashed that
conductor just once, because there was
no necessity of doing it a second time.
The gripman rushed in, and in turn
the soldier knocked him into state If
comparative grace. Then the victor
x1oI III
private in the Tennessee regiment" he
said with that Southern accent which
falls SO pleasantly on the ear, "and I'm
very glad to have been here just now.
1 would take it as favor, madam, If
you would permit me to pay youah
fare" He extended the lady the
necessary nickel, tipped his hat once
more and left the car. The conductor
and gripman revived. and business was
resumed.
Captain Barnes of the Eighth Regi-
ment has for several years had as
serving man a negro known as Sam.
Since the captain has grown so stout
that he cannot lace his own shoes, Sam
has been a necessity. AS rule he
Is obedient, but the other day he re-
belled. Sam" said the captain, get
on my horse and ride down to the Ten
nessee camp. give my compliments to
Colonel Smith and tell him I will be
glad to join him at lunch" Sam rolled
his eyes. "Mistah Bahnes," said he,
Use ben faithful man, and Use en-
deavohed, sab, to do my full duty. But
rathah than go to that Tennessee camp,
sab, I throws UP my job right heah."
The captain reflected moment, and
then sent white messenger.
Perhaps 1 bring myself into contempt
by it, but I confess to admiration for
the Indiana Sheriff who came here for
a prisoner, and having secured him
stole him out Of the State by means of
a special locomotive. OF course the
Sheriff might have stayed indefinitely
while the customary monkey business
of the law was being enacted, but he
thought of a better way, devoid of
technicality, delay or fubdub. The
prisoner had committed a crime and
sought refuge in California. This is
not properly an asylum for rogues Elk
tradition papers had been signed, and
after all, up popped a lawyer with in
tent W Dedl the puTpOSe Ol the statute.
1t was a vain effort, thanks to a Sheriff
not given to foolishness
There is no utility in overpraise Of
a man even If he Is dead. I have in
mind the late Carl Smith, valued
member of the Chicago Record staff.
He was drowned a few days ago while
on the sort of a vacation a liberal pa
per grants to it's overworked men, and
during which they are required to write
a column day. OF Smith an admirer
has written:
"The name Of Carl Smith will never
be forgotten, but will live to be an
inspiration so long as youth, intelli-
gence and virtue shall dare to achieve
honorable distinction in the. face Of diff
ficulty and Disadvantage
All this shows friendly spirit, but
1t is nonsense. The name of poor Carl
will be forgotten before his successor
shall have warmed for fortnight: the
chair Smith filled SO well after Field
had been called away. The time to
appreciate man, even If he labor un-
der the hardship of being a hired