Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-09-15
ovANTAGEs OF A LEGAL EDU.
CATION,

.ntaee. How this preparation shall
made is a serious question. One
insiders that he must need be born
enius before he can safely enter GER
in professions. Another views his
Eanial bumps and depressions as in
hllible marks of his success, as the
nobs bolts and other projections on
iron safe indicate whether or not
vaults contain gold or are empty.
shile another imagines that he is
bntrolled by the fates and, in order
ascertain his future prospects of
nceess consults soothsayers, palmists,
airvoyants and other mystagogues.
We consider that genius is a very
are animal, perhaps extinct. That
ach person els the architect of his
Bwn fortune" and that if he properly
prepares himself his success in any
brofession will depend upon the amount
IF interest and pleasure he takes in it
Ind the amount of work and energy he
properly expends. That the only gen.
1us now known to exist consists Of
bqual parts of attention, interest, per.
beverence, constant work and well-di.
Feeted energy.
Millions of unemployed capital await
management by the person who can
how its possessors that he is a man
d practical Judgment and integrity
and capable of handling it to an ad.
Vantage. He must be careful and eau
|tiOus, not visionary nor fanciful; he
must reason logically, use the expert.
ence of the past and apply it unerring.
ly to affairs and conditions about him
and plan enterprises and convince men
of wealth that those enterprises are
feasible.
Stanford and Huntington were men
of small fortunes when they projected
a trans-continental railroad across a
vast tract of country then regarded by
many as a barren waste. They were
practical men and had examined all
the surroundings and the force of their
convictions caused men of wealth to
engage in the enterprise. Soon an iron
band bound the continent, and the
Great American Desert took wings Of
fight and in its stead came land of
wealth and civilization. And vast
fortunes and undying fame to them
was the reward of their enterprise.
Be practical, use sound judgment, be
guided by experience and apply the
conclusions accurately and unerringly
and you have the foundation stones of
success. Good practical judgment de-
pends much upon the persons sur.
roundings and education. Some have
been successful without systematic edu-
cation, yet there is little doubt that
their success would have been even
greater had they had its benefits.
Books are as useless toys unless the
matters which they contain can be put
to some useful purpose. That system of
education is most beneficial which de-
pends upon reason rather than mem.
Ory and rote, and upon judgment in.
stead Of mystic words.
This world is real and not place
of fancy, magic or mystery. We know
of nothing that will dispel our illus
ions so well as that of the study of
law. A knowledge of the leading prin.
eiples of law is beneficial to all, no
matter in what avocation we engage.
This knowledge is obtainable in a
course of two or three years in a good
law school. Any person of ordinary
understanding, by devoting two or
three hours daily to its study, is usual
ly able to complete course Of law,
and some are able to attend the lee
lures only and get fair idea of many
of its principles. If the student gets
the reason for rule of law it is fixed
on his memory without effort and thus
he avoids over work. The idle time
which young man has is usually quite
sufficient TO carry on the study of law.
The lawyer examines all sides of a
question deliberately and practically
and arrives at logical conclusion. His
mind readily grasps the details of the
most complicated subject with which
he had never before paid the slightest
attention. The business man who has
spent may years in the detai-s of his
trade and finding himself embarrassed
goes to lawyer for counsel, although
he lawyer does not know the differ
nee between gingham and calico. Yet
hat lawyer is able to go over the de-
.ails of his clients business and in
many instances correct the fault which
lis client has overlooked. The sue
'essful business man of today pays
awyers good fees for advice that pre-
lents costly litigation, instead of fol.