Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-05-01
Delmas Says Genius is Hard Work.

Dolphin Michael Delmas the sen
ior counsel in the Thaw trial has
been the subject of a three column
story by Edwin Emerson in the
Boston Herald, from which the fol.
lowing is taken:
Delmas was born in France, the
son of French parents. He himself
pronounces his name as Delmah,
and in his early days resented any
other pronunciation. He is proud
of his likeness to Napoleon, and for
this reason prefers to let but one
portrait of himself get abroad. This
is photograph which was taken
many years ago in San Jose, show
ing stray curl over his forehead
after the manner of certain famous
portrait of Napoleon.
Delmas' people came to California
in the days of the gold rush, and
settled in the Santa Clara valley.
In the town of San Jose street
bears this family name.
Dolphin was educated at the
Jesuit college of Santa Clara, one of
the best classical colleges of America.
He was graduated from it with the
highest honors, and received gold
medal for his proficiency in the
classic.
Only one other man in California
holds the mate to this medal, and
that is the president of the college.
Delmas, according to the college
authorities. was the brightest pupil
ever graduated from Santa Clara.
Afterward he was graduated from
the Yale Law school and was ad-
mitted to the Connecticut bar.
They tell this story of his school
boy days at Santa Clara:
Delmas, the better to perfect him
self in Greek, solicited the favor of
private readings with Father White,
the best Greek scholar of the Santa
Clara faculty. For the first lesson
be brought his own copy of Demos
themes Grafton, whereas Father
White brought none.
will you read from my book,
Father?" asked Delmas.
mo" replied Father White. 81
need no book. l have my text by
heart"
For the next lesson Delmas came
empty handed.
Where is your book, my SOM"
asked Father White.
Il need no book" said Delmas.
i have learned my text by heart. :"
Any one, who has ever toiled
through Demosthenes' endless
orations may we'll doubt this tale,
but. ] shaxa it from the lips of~Fathsr
White himself.
His story is thoroughly character
istic Of Delmas as Student and
lawyer. In Delmas' own words,
there is no such thing as a genius.
So-called genius merely means hard
work" If this definition be true,
then Delmas is man of genius.
Apart from Delmas' native ability
and the genius which he himself
would define as hard work, Delmas
owes his high position as the leader
of the California bar largely to the
character of some of the most
prominent cases which he has tried.
Delmas is the only big lawyer in
California who has consistently es-
poused the cause of the people
against the Southern Pacific.
Delmas, from the time that he
fought Leland Stanford, Charles
Crocker and Coils P. Huntington.
in the great case Of David S. Colton's
widow against those railroad barons
of the past, down to the present day,
has persistently championed all
manner of legal suits, big or little,
provided they were brought against
the Southern Pacific.
A former law partner of Delmas,
who is now engaged in litigation
with his former chief, told me that
Delmas had a standing offer from
the Southern Pacific of 100000
retainer, provided only he would
handle no more damage suits against
the railroad.-Law Book Bulletin.
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Abolishing the Death Penalty.