The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-17
BLACKSTONE AND A BEADLE NOVEL.
Study Prescribed by a Missouri Judge FOR .
Young law student.

-Th editorial In a recent issue Of The Sun
on The Novels Of Mr., Bcadle.' and . subse-
quent letter from the author OF Seth Jones
OF the Beadle series, reminded me Of when I
was n law student in the Office Of a young at
torney." said a New York man. My frst
lesson, in %oratorv were learned by listening
10 nv rreceptor read selections from Seth
Jones The lawyer was aftervard Judge.
| Congressman, and AZ the time ~ his death a
United States District Judge In Arkansas.
having been appointed by Grant In the latter's
second administration You may have heard
OF him, Isaac E, Parker, for some Of his de-
cisions made his name familiar TO the bench
and bar Of the country.
Il WIS a stripping when Parker swung his
shingle In st. Joseph. Mo. he was a young
man. and Young men al that time had 10 wait.
After I had been in hi Office a short time he
quickly discovered. | think, that ! required
| some sort Of diversion In order 10 whef my
appetite for Wendel's Black stone, in the first
volume OF which he drilled me rs as iduoIsly
'Beadie's Dino Novel, we're the only easy
reading for boys in, that town. The dealer
| who had them on ale disposed Of them sur
T reI,nisnnhyet AoysI BY Oh he 1 best s soriet we're cs n9.
was ths broad road 10 destruction. The boys
Who no bought }TrI,rr and ,bG read ad,r them formed ages % 2 s sSiS5
wae in a hayioft' Here the volumes we're CON
Sealsd when not in hand The demand a. for II
thefts and an occasional kno"k down. am
afraid was more deeply Interested in the mighty
f EIsst. fr@@ X Srtg hsH 4 P%emGei SEan ad ! Sa: IN an my
tation,. | carried our only copy Of Seth Zones
10 Parker's law office one day. and while on
an errand ! left II hid under my Blackstone.
When | returned Parker was reading it, l
think ! read more pages Of Blackstone IN that
hour than was my wont, for tne reason MAJ
As | remember the story, when the star char
actor In the novel is confronted by another who
inquiries Who y seth Jones the her? replies,
the estimation Of Parker. was he dramatic sit
uation in the story, and he jumped from his
chair and read it aloud with fine declamatory
effect. !, shall never, forget how hi reading
impressed me. Then he laid tho book aside and
took mo 10 task on my Blackstone, walblng the
floor, d]qizzing ana explaining After ms he
II with greater effect than beiorcl
Finally ! had "a return Seth Jones TO the
library, or stand a fine, six stoSies for a cent a
few DAYS after, Parker asked FOR IT,. and when l
told him ] had returned II he wanted TO know
where another copy could be bought ! told
him confdcntlally, and hc sent me to purchase
GcOpy. The dealer refused 10 sell 1t 10 me with
out an order. That Was his rule, forced by stern
parents who doubtless did not imagine that they
We're thereby encouraging their progeny in Tor
gerry. returned 10 Parker with the intprna-
ton and he wrote an order for one copy Of Seth
Jones which I laid before tho bookmnn with n
good deal Of pride. When he looked az the
order he said the writing was so illegtble he
couldn't read II. for purker's chtrography was
not the kind one could read even when II was
carefully written, Again l returned TO the
Office with the order, and crcstlallen.
Parker was furious He picked up a pound
weight which was his paper holder and putting
II in his pocket left with the remark that he
would hammer the book mans eyes open until
he could read Chinese. remained TO %conten-
plate the righteous assault. Soon after, Parker
back in It's place. lie was my idea Of n hero at
that moment. =,
Now, he said, opening the novel, we shall
resume our Seth Jones" readings After hr
read several pages he turned 10 mo and AK cd,
What was II that other man asked Seth
Jones2'
Who T. Seth Jones?' replied more promptly
than 7 ever had answered a question about
primogeniture, or any other subject In Black
stone,
This was Parker's cue, He threw down the
book and striking a heroic attitude he thun-
dered, Tn Seth Jones from New Uampshirel
Il continued in Parker's Office for q year. |
followed his successful career 10 its close. lie
was a powerful pleader, n fearless iurtst and a
Representative Of moro than average ability
having served three consecutive terms In Con
grsss. ] frequently heard him on the stump
but In all his efforts he never impressed mo a.
he did when he used 10 turn from his c~xanlina-
ton Of Blackstone and eyclaim with dramatic
force, I'm Seth Jones from New Hampshire"