The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-20

COLO
AT the age OF fifteen he put to clerk in country
store career Upon which lie entered with small taste and
enthusiasm After shirt apprenticeship his father set him
and his younger brother tip in business their account.
It seems that lis brother little qualified for
OF abusincss man as Patrick himself was The venture
proved to be failure Just after this experience i'll bank
ruptcy when he had attained the age Of eighteen he added
the embarrassment Of this distressing situation by marrying.
The name Of the brave who willing share his
lot Of poverty and who said be quite as as
he Sarah Shelton The situation seemed to for
help from both sides Of the family accordingly the parents
OF both parties united in settling the young couple upon
small far The experiment at farming disastrous
the business venture and after years there forced
sale OF whatever remained the farm Patrick concluded
that perhaps with the added experience Of the years at
ing business venture might successful, and he
resolved to again up country third failure
followed quickly upon heels Of the others
one magines that during all these distressing years
rick himself greatly distressed or disturbed one IS much
mistaken It seems that he possessed Of
good nature which absolutely refused be discouraged and
could find situation but that Of it sorto pleasure
or satisfaction might be had However serious the situation
might seen1to others be- Patrick really seemed to
g1avely impressed At the age twentytrce he was the
father OF group Of small children, looking him for daily
bread and support and there absolutely no visible means
OF livelihood and lie thrown back upon his wes father
who kept inn at Hanover Courthouse for shelter and sup
Dort
1t is SAID that his first awakening. consciousness
ing OF two ministers of the gospel Of whom James Wad
dell was blind preacher, and have been able
exercise wonderful Influence great congregations by his
cloquence The other Samuel Davies an eminent Pres
bycran minister, OF whom Patrick Henry he was
greatest orator that he had heard Under the wcery
Of the eoquencc OF these two lie really to have
found himself There that in him which responded TO
the call for expression aroused in him by the preaching
these two ministers, and for the first his life he formed
something like real resolution
lie determined that he would enter at once mon the nrc
paraon Tor the practice Of law. 1t would interesting to
trace through Mr. Henrys ancestry both sides Of the
parental house the lines Of crey that would account for his
ambition in this respect and largely for the splendid success
realized afterwards i'll his If accounts are true
lie was not by any means the first competent lawyer sue
cessfu politician eloquent speaker family The tr,
is that up to this time there had been any appeal made
to the mans essential nature and there no stir in his life
until he felt this call.
The stories concerning his preparation admission
TO the bar are somewhat confusing both as to the length Of
time taken IN this preparation and the way in which he
was admitted to the practice Of law One story SAYS that he
gave only few weeks Of study or six weeks in
the preparation for admssion another extends the limit to
nine months However this may there can be no doubt but
that was with some difficulty that lie procured license
No one knows precisely what conditions were cxactcd upon
anted =