The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-06-18
THE YALE LAW SCHOOL
DEAN MAITLAND ON ITS HIS
 TORY.

Interesting and Comprehensive Ae-
 count of Its Start, Growth and Present
 A Valuable Contribution to the
 Records of Yale.
 'The shingle," which is the official organ of the graduating class of the Yale Law school, has just made it's ap- pearance and the volume is one of ex- eeptional merit. Louis Burton of this city, who is a member of the law class of 1903, is the editor. '"The Shingle'' this year is of unusual interest, con- taining articles by Judge Baldwin. Act ing Dean Woolsey, Dean-Elect Rogers and former Dean Wayland. The lat ter's article deals with the past history of the Yale Law school. As Professor Wayland was largely instrumental in placing the Yale Law school on its present high plane, the article will ppove of great value to all who are in- terested in Yale. The article in ques- tion follows:
 -gs. A RETROSPECT.
 As my active connection with the Yale Law school will terminate with the close of the present academic year it seems fitting that my valedictory should appear in the official organ of 
 the graduating class.
 It would be interesting, did time and space permit, to follow in detail the various stages of the evolution of the Law school from it's humble home thir- ty years ago in the I.effingwell. building, to our present cornmodious and alto gether adequate quarters.
 Up to 1873 the school occupied two rooms in the rear of this building over 8 restaurant The larger apartment was at once library, recitation, con- versation and lounging room. In the Interval between recitations it is al- legged to have beensat times the scene of much athletic activity. It was heated by good-sized stove, around which was an ample box filled with sand de- signed to receive the frequent expecto- rations of the faithful few who wor- shiped at this shrine of Themis.
 The library consisted of imperfect sets of reports of several states and some archaic textbooks. On one side of the room was a dais supporting the desk, behind which the instructor (the nse1of the singular number is intention aD surveyed with somewhat saddened expression his little band of listeners A visitor to the scene might well have said to himself: These young gentle men certainly 'scorn delights even if they do not live 'laborious days" A small adjoining room served as a re- treat for the instructor and sheltered the librarian. It will, of course, be un- derstood that am speaking of the con- dition of affairs in the year 1869, when to many members of the corporation it seemed hardly worth while that this faint sennblance of Law Department should survive. President WooIsey took the matter into his own hands, suo more, and prevailed upon three promi- 1lent young members of the New Ha- ven bar to undertake the apparently hopeless task of resuscitating this we'll nigh moribund department Messrs W. c. Robinson, S. E. Baldwin and John- son T. Platt were the selected triumvi- rate. Of these, Professor Baldwin alone is now connected with the depart ment of which he has long been recognized as the Nestor May the day be far distant when the school ceases to enjoy the benefit of his ripe learning and his high standard of legal education. Professor Platt died in 1890, in the prime of his powers, sincerely 1nourned by his associates and by his large circle of friends. Professor Rob- inson left us in 1896, to become Dean of the Law faculty of the Catholic uni- versity of America, in Washington, D. c. His tact, his personal kind ness, his mental alertness, his pres ence of mind, his perfect famili- arity with the topics he taught (nainly Elementary Law and Real Property), made him a most successful teacher. All the surviving alumni of the years between 1869 and 1896 will re- call him with grateful affection. In 1872 I joined the corps of instructors and in 1873 became Dean of the Faculty.
 Our removal in the spring of the last named year to the County Court House was almost our first ray of sunshine. Before this, however, some valuable ad ditions had been made to the library and corps of very able lecturers had been secured, ,-ex-President Woolsey on the Law of Nations, Professor Hadley on Roman Law, Dr. Leonard Bacon on Ecclesiastical Law, Dr. Francis Bacon on Medical Jurisprudence, Judge Charles J. McCurdy on the Law of In- surance, Professor J, M. Hoppin on Fo-