Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-25
, . Trade With Your Neighbors.
4 Plain StOry of LNery-DaN Life


80 - - Ok u
Charles SnobIeigh was a young law
yer Of ability and he had some of the
elements of success. He had d liberal
| education; he was handsome and OF
good family. a season Of foreign
| travel before he entered upon his pro
fession had given him d sight of the
world and it's ways. He could make =
good speech and write a good brief
He could argue a case in a manner
that made judges listen, and audiences
delighted.
But he did not get on. He had set
tied in a thriving busting city OF
booming growth. There were thrifty
corporations, large firms OF merchants
doing a prosperous business. He met
them in society and at clubs, ana tried
to make himself agreeable.
Why it is that they 10 not retain
ile?," he asked himself dejectedIy.
Why do they go to a distant city and
employ lawyers as their counsel?
Why do they pass my Office and retain
practitioners who are my inferiors?
He felt wounded, hurt III his pride,
disappointed in his expectations, the
bitter consciousness that he was not
appreciated.
He grew moody, as day after day he
saw other young members of the bar
gathering in business, appearing in
court in numerous cases, and lawyers
from the capital and other principal
cities Of the state coming in and try
ing cases that he felt perfectly compe-
tent to handle.
One evening, he was sitting at the
club reading the papers. He happen
ed to OveThear a conversation between
two or three of the leading business
men Of the city. They were sitting in
an adjoining room and unaware of his
presence. He was not eayes-dropping,
but hearing his own name mentioned,
he could not well avoid giving atten-
ton. 1t was an opportunity afforded
him to see himself as others saw him.
I'VE need a good lawyer in this
town. said old Mr.. Strong, the head of
several important industries. There's
a fine field for an able, forcible young
man with good legal head on him"
There's young Snobleigh," said a
leading merchant" Judge Williams
told me that he had the best education,
the finest legal mind and best power of
stating the facts and the law of any
man at the bar
The trouble with that man" said an
other man OF business prominence, is
that he thinks himself little too
choice for his neighbors. He has his
tailor in London and imports his
clothes. He sends to New York to
have his shoes made. He keeps his
measure with shirt-maker in Boston
He buys his cigars of some concern
down east. He has his own halter
way off some where. We passed the
word around, that we'd let him look for
his clients where he sends his money
I've no use for that sort of dude,
| said a leading man in the retail trade
| When I ind a man too stylish tC
| patronize his neighbors, and sends of
for his goods, or his wife must do he1
| shopping in some larger city, 1 says tc
| myself, all right. Look for your Gus
| toners where you bestow your patron
age. 1 pay considerable money fol
legal services every year, but I'll senC
off and buy legal talent before I'll helI
on a man at home, who is TOO good t.
| buy Of me-
We've quite lot of those people il
town" observed a third. They thinl
they are swell people. They do thei-
trading in New York or Cincinnati o.
Baltimore, giving no encouragement t
the home trade"
Live ard let live" said another. i
a good motto. My rule of lie is t
give lift to my peighbors If a hom
merchant don't happen to have what
want 1 let him send for it. The littl
profit he gets helps him and don't adj