The times., 1899-06-04
STORIES oF "DIcK,' oGLESBY.
How He Succeeded In Breaking Into
the Law,
(From the Chicago Chronicle


Both oratory and law were natural gifts
for Uncle Dick" Oglesby. who like bis
friend Lincoln. was not educated as our
lawyers are now. He used to tell this story
of hi, entrance into the profession of law:
Il really didn't know what I wanted to
be. SO one summer l tried farming.
worked hard. but the season passed ans
l had cleared just $3.50. 1t rather struck
me that had not been cut out for farm
er. and so 1 decided to study law. l had
never read a book through in my life, but
down to Springfield l went to read with
Judge Robbins. The first thing ! tackled
was Blackstone. Well. the big words near
ly took my breath away. The judge st g.
gested that it would be well for me to
read English history in connection with
the works on law, and asked me what l
could remember of any history.
81 never read any. judge I answered.
what! No English history?
."'No.'
"'No American history?'
:" No.
".WelI what have you read?' asked the
judge. severely.
:" 'Nothin, judge. l never read book
through in my life
ITO say the judge was astonished at my
audacity. | think, rather than my ignor-
ance. is putting it mildly, but he only
looked at me and said:
why, Dick, how in the devil DO you
expect TO become a lawyer
Il told him that / knew several lawyers
who never read anything, never had read
anything. didn't know anything and
hadn't any sense either. and I guessed l
could be lawyer If they could.
After that / buckled right down to
work" continued Uncle Dick, 'and after
| had read number OF law books / went
before Judge Breeze for. examination
There were a number of us and we had a
jug of cider and bushel of apples TO treat
the Judges, so we all went through. Not
long after that Seth Post, an old lawyer at
Decatur, had case in probate court for
which he was to get s30-a splendid fee
for those days. He offered to take me in
with him, and l accepted. l was to open
the argument, and if 1 remember rightly
| wellnigh covered the ground OF every
thing | knew in that speech. But didn't
know a thing about the case. and II Is
needless to say my speech fell rather short
of the point in question. Judge Emerson
was counsel foi the other side, and be was
mighty goct lawyer. 100. lie simply
tore my talk into shreds, and infor led ne
in substance that had made 4 fool of my
self When he finished Seth Pos aro5e
and addressed the court very briefly. say-
ing that his distinguished colleague, IT.
Oglesby, had so carefully recltad the facts
that it was quite Unnecessary for him TO add
anything. In that way the jury took the
case, and in ten minutes thei came back
with a verdict in our favor. | got my S15,
and it was more money than l had ever
owned before"
Someone tells a good cigar story on the
ex-governor which runs something like
this: II was during the Cleveland Blaine
campaign, and Mr.. Oglesby was making
his first visit of any length in New York.
For the first time Delmonico's attracted
his attention.
What kind of place is that?" he ask
ed
Come in and see," responded his COM
panion. Uncle Dick went in, and the
friend ordered luncheon, on which the
two dined right royalty. Luncheon finish
ed he asked the governor to Join him
in a smoke. The clerk at the cigar coun-
ter handed out some fine Havanas. Uncle
Dick was in the act OF taking one, when
suddenly he drew back and said
whats the price of these?"
twenty-five cents" said the clerk.
Holy smoke" exclaimed Uncle Dick;
put EN- back, put 'em back. quick,"
But governor, this is my treat" argued
the friend.
"Daren't do it! daren't do it, Put en-
backi''
| But governor
"See here young man. returned Uncle
| Dick, Il daren't do it. Why man alive
if they ever found out in Illinois that
| smoked 25-cent cigars, whether l paid fol
'em or not, they'd turn me out of tht
| church, and it would ruin me, politically
| forever No sir. scent cigars at home ant
| 1O-centers in New York are good enough
! for me-