Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-12
FAME IN SPITE OF AFFLUENCE
0hoats's Remarkable Career as a Lawyer,
Orator and Wit,
TELLS WHY HE BECAME A LAWYER
wouId Rather lie Leader of the
New York Bar Than President
Advice to Young Men Enter
ing the Profession.
TELLS WHY HE BECAME A LAWYER

Most men whose careers bring thrill
TO the heart OF the democratic American are
those who have succeeded in spite Of ter
rible dsadvantages-sefn made men, who
fought their way upward through poverty to
fame.
Joseph Choate OF New York, who has
Just been appointed to fll the most d.
tinguished diplomatic position In the gift
OF this country. has succeeded in spite Of
advantages. His uncle, Rufus Choate, was
one OF the most famous lawyers of his
day; his father had money in store to pro-
vide for him literally should he
never nerve himself to greater ex-
ercise than clipping coupons. There
seemed little incentive for him to
work or strive in the busy world; 1t
seemed impossible for him to add luster to
the already famous name of Choate.
There Is, therefore, sense as well as wit
in Mr.. Choate's remark: II have sue
ceede in spite OF advantages"
Choate wasted none of his early oppor-
tunities. He was born in the old town Of
Salem, Mass. His family was respected
and we'll do, and his early education was
carefully looked after. He was graduated
from Harvard in 1852 at the age OF 20 and
two years later completed the course OF the
Harvard Law school. When Mr.. Choate
was asked how he came to adopt the profess
sion Of law, he replied:
why He Became n Lawyer.
"Well, 1t was this way: In those days
a man who went to college had his choice
OF three courses-law, medicine and
theology. My friends assured me that
wasn't cut out for a minister; in medicine
our family was already represented SO 1
accepted the only alternative"
In reality, however, Choate was In love
with the law. He believes thoroughly and
enthusiastically in his profession, and he
has taken occasion to pay eloquent tribute
to 1t in an address before the American Bar
association. He said:
1--WE love the law because, among. all the
learned professions, 1t Is the only one that
involves the study and the pursuit OF a
careful and exact science.
Theology was once considered an i'm
mutable science, but how it has changed
from age to age!
And then as to medicine? How Its the
ories succeed each other in rapid revolution,
so that what were good methods and heal
ing doses and saving prescriptions gene
ration ago are now condemned, and all the
past Is adjudged TO be empirical.
Meanwhile, common law makes void the
past where the fault Is and preserves the
rest, as it has been doing for centuries.
$50 long as the supreme court exists to
be attacked and defended; so long as the
public credit and good faith of this great
nation are in peril so long as the right OF
property, which lies at the root Of all civil
government, is secuted and the three in
alienable rights to life, liberty and the
pursuit OF happiness. which the Declaration
of Independence proclaimed and the consti-
tuition has guaranteed, are in jeopardy: so
long will great public service be demanded
OF the bar"
Choosing a Place to Practice.
Equipped with his love OF the law and his
thorough preparation in 1t. Choate began,
in 1854, to look about for an opening. He
took plenty OF time for the task as might
be expected of a scholarly man able to COM
Tnand leisure. He took a trip through the
west, and 1t was not until 1856 that he set
tied to practice in New York.
1t might have seemed the natural thing
for young Mr.. Choate to hang out his shin
gle in Massachusetts instead of emigrating
TO New York. Although Mr. Choate does
not say so, 1t is probable that the presence
of his famous kinsman, Rufus Choate, then
in the zenith of his power and fame, at the
head OF the Massachusetts bar, had some
thing to do with it. Young Joseph had amb-
tions OF his OVID and he may have reasoned
correctly that they would stand better
chance of fulfllment away from the direct
comparison with Rufus Choate's abilities
MIR. Choate has been able to succeed in
spite not only Of advantages in wealth and
education, but in spite Of distinguished
relative as well.
The famous relative was something of
handicap at first. Lawyers and others II
New York said:
Rufus Choates young cousin has come
down here to practice. Let's go and see how
he compares with the old man.
They focked to Joe" Choates first casei
and most OF them were disappointed. HI!
quiet manner, conversational arguments ant
off hand Jokes were SO entirely In contras
with The stirring eloquence of Rufus Choat'
that the observers did not appreciate hi!
power at first.
"Guess he hasn't much to bank on bu
the family name," they said.
But there were some who appreciated The
young attorneys possibilities, and one o.
these was william NJ. Evarts. In 1859 h,
invited Mr.. Choate to join his firm. He die