Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-09-01
''BARDEEN, THE LAWYER. /"
BY $. H. ALsAN, RH1NELANDER.
May 1t pla,sse the Court

ID D II. AL.>ANt RE1lNEl1ANDEh.
Gfay 1t plaesse the Court
In estimating the character of cul-
tured well-developed, many-sided man,
it is sometimes difficult to determine
which is his best and most attractive
side. And no greater tribute could be
paid to any man than this, that many
can sing his praises and each in a
different tune. Shakespeare, in that
beautiful play, "The Tempest" in the
inimitable scene between Ferdinand
and Miranda, puts into the mouth of
the ardent lover these words:
"For several virtues
Have liked several women: never any
With so full soul, but some defect in her
Did quarrel with the noblest grace she owned,
And put it to the foil; but you O, you
SO perfect and so peerless, are created
OF every creatures best
The immortal bard INDUCED here in
a little poetic license, perhaps, but that
speech, if truly and sincerely spoken,
would prevail over the most obdurate
heart, and at the same time convey an
exalted estimate of character which not
even vanity or egotism would dare to
assume.
On occasions like this, language of
eulogy is sometimes over-taXed; for,
when we think or speak of those whom
we loved and who have crossed to the
other shore, the past reveals only its
sweetest memories aud we speak as it
were, in visions. Had the theme
assigned me been more personal in its
nature it might have been well nigh
impossible for me to express the full
sentiments of friendship, because
Charles v. Bardeen was my friend,
faithful and just to me-" But | ara
to speak of him, not with reference to
personal feeling or relations, but as
lawyer.
There are lawyers and lawyers. Good,
fair, able, sharp, successful aud-other
lawyers. From among these deSigna-
tioDs l select the good preferable and
most comprehensive. When we say of
one of our brethren ''he is a good law
yer" it is doubtful whether we consider
all that is implied in the term The
word good has 9. wide range and many
shades of meaning. When the Om1ip-
otent pronounced each successive step
in his creation good" language could
characterize it no further, because the
act and the word were divine If fsociety
can truly set man down as good, it
means that he is an eXemplar of moral
principle and character A good
lawyer may not be one excelling in all
points, net necessarily pre-eminent in
any But he is the best, the soundest,
the safest lawyer who is good in most
things.
| was a resident of Wausau when
Charles V. Bardeen began here the
practice of his profession. With but
small share of the worlds abundant
xx-nalth bn Y,anarfhalaCu
limited capital in good education, a
clear head, invincible courage, incom-
parable integrity and tireless industry.
He was among the great number who
must start in business life without ad-
ventitious aid. The world was all be-
fore him where to choose but he must
carve out his own fortune. He had
well assimilated that lesson from the
Psalm of Learn to labor and
to wait" He possessed in good degree
that dignified patience which is one of
the essential elements of success. The
question whether clientage was to
come soon or late was one which he
could not settle off hand, but he could
so order his life, so store his mind with
knowledge, so fit and prepare himself
for the arena of legal strife as to be
ready for it when it came.
One of the first things that attracted
my attention in our earlier acquain
tance was his studiousness. His books
were his constant companions And
this habit of assiduous legal study he
retained through life. One day, after
his success was assured, | went into his
office and found him with a volume of
Wiscor sin reports in his hands. In re-
ply to some remark of mine he in
= IL Ia 80 toH
time before to review I'll the syllabi in
the Wisconsin reports for the purpose
of refreshing his memory on the decis-
ions; and, showing me a number OF
the volumes, he said, 81 have gotten
this far
Well, the young lawyer continued for
some time TO practice patience and per
severence; but the reward came IN due
time as ii always will come to those
who have the staying and winning quail
tiles. Clients sought his advice and
never failed 10 find the genuine articles.
He possessed the faculty of inspiring
confidence. The reasons for this were
many. While he despised hattery and
fawning. he ever extended that cour-
tesy which honest manhood yields to
its kind His face and manner were
invitations of confidence His clients
felt assured that he knew the law and
that his exposition would be concien-
tious. There are persons, born cynics,
who try 10 be funny and who smile
significantly when we speak of law
yer's conscience JOEes Of this class
are threadbare aSa are the preroga-
tive Of little men and little journals
The honest lawyer exists IN goodly
numbers and Charles V Bardeen was a
conspicuous example. When we speak
| Of the honest LAWYER We do not imply
merely the pecuniary sense. Most law
1 vers are honest in dollars and cents.
1 Among the legal fraternity embezzle-
ment 4 a rare ofTense. But in this oe-
half honasEy implies lzore than squar-
Ting fnaaeial accounts One Of the best