The San Francisco call., 1898-01-02
WITH ENTIRE FRANKNESS
BY HENRY JAMES.

came CnrlStlan. The macnlne which sets copy. not according to the way it is written, but as 1t thinks it should have been written, simply re- fused to permit this duty to be per formed. From somewhere in its iron inner consciousness it brought a jum- ble of words, eliminated the name of the book and the name of the author, leaving the reader to guess what the matter was. Just now, being engaged in an effort to forget the book, that I ever read it, aad to lead better life, I refrain from trying to recall what had been written. But the general ef- feet of it was to set forth the volume as being pern1eated from cover to cover with the odor of decay
 
 Without desiring to give a temper ance lecture it may be possible to cali attention to three items in the paper of the morning after Christmas. Each of the three records the fact that a man had been burned to death, and in each instance the man was drunk. Perhaps if all the trio were predestined to per ish by flame it is as we'll that they should have been in this condition. It | not only numbed their senses, but al- cohol being so infiammable, caused them to ignite more readily, burn with finer glow and get to nerveless cinder with the least delay. However, had they remained sober there is a prob ability that they would have been still alive and raw.
 Members of certain professions take l fy, af | to the world outside is often a puzzle, but to ask what it may be for is a violation of something or other not 1 fully understood. The lay mind is sup posed to be unable to approach it in spirit even of respectful inquiry, for 1t is baffled at the threshold of pro- fessional entrenchment. and from with in there comes no ray of light. A code which binds to honor may be compre- hended of all men, but one which does not do this must fail to excite universal esteem. The mere possession of a sys- tenn of ethics is no sign of virtue, for thieves are thus so notably equipped that the fact has passed into proverb Perhaps Attorney J. c. Campbell could | explain a subject now shrouded in doubt. What is the ethical standard If a lawyer is bound to keep the secret | of a client, though the revelation would be useful to the state, is he not equally bound to keep the secret which comes to him unaccompanied by a fee? MT. i Campbell Is a lawyer of standing and experience. Doubtless his lips have of ten been sealed concerning themes on which the public eagerly sought infor- nation. Yet the tale told to him at a lunch, a place where the tongue is prone to looseness, was babbled about and at last he made oath in court to having heard it. 1t is true that his re- telling of personal and private com munication had an apparent tendency to protect a criminal, but does this cir constance, even appealing as 1t must to the instinct of his calling, serve as a valid excuse? I do not cherge Mir. Campbell with having done wrong. In proper humility I seek knowledge. But it is not too much to say that many a man who is not hedged in by wall of "ethics" would have scorned the thought of violating a confidence hast fly and foolishly bestowed.
 
 If the object of long and expensive trial Is to determine the guilt or inno- cence of prisoner my notion is that the truth being known in advance robs the occasion of usefulness and dignity reducing it to the level of a farce. II seems to me there should be short cut in such cases, and that proceedings ought not to occupy much more time than required for the passing of sen tence, or formulation of an honora ble dlscharge. It is true that no constitu- tional provision exists making this DOS sible, but there is no proof that any constitution yet devised is perfect. The example of young Flannelly may be taken as an illustration. Flannelly killed his father and the officer who undertook to arrest him for the crime Yet there will be an elaborate trial. an. peals, finally to the Supreme Coi,rt And all for what? To keep a murdere, rom hanging he has earned twice over. My position is strengthened by the tact that not a lawyer in the world Will agree with me in it.
 
 The fact that Trinityis to have a new rector is cheering in that 1t shows the absence Of the Rev. George Walk to be more than temporary. I have been in Trinity but once-on that occasion be- Ing one of twelve who were acting as palI-oearers at the funeral of Kate f1eid. Eight of the number. were 1 newspaper men. We were met at the door by Walk, fully robed, but acting the part of drunken, blustering bully. with perfection which bespoke long practice. Something had occurred be- l fore our arrival to awaken unplas Sa n i emotions within his savage breast. What 1t was we did not know, nor was Walk coherent enough to explain. So We stood there in wonder while he heaped abuse alike upon the living and their silent burden. We even refrained from reply. fearing to rouse his wrath to more noisy indecency, and having | for. the sanctuary a respect wholly wanting on the part of the rector. When he had finished his tirade he strode up the aisle, irtoning the words of the beautiful service, but the voice | x-a hn nf esr l