The Washington herald., 1909-05-16
CEORCE WOODWARD WICKERsHAM

become 2 civil engineer. I learned 10 b
a telesrapheT, and was employed as an
operator IN one OF the big Offices IN Phil
adelphla- During the Presidential cam
Paign OF 1876 was deputed 20 act as tele-
graph operator at the headquarters Of tie
Republican State committee. Personally.
the employment was very satisfactory
and OF considerable v2lCe, edUcstiOnally.
Began the study of Law.
From the KEY in the telegraph Office
I went to the Office Of the Geological
Society as secretary. Ny duties were
not onerous. and I had plenty Of time
for reading can't tell how got hold OF
the two volumes Of Blackstone's Com
nentaries read section /. on the study
OF the law; section . on the nature OF
laws IN general section ;. 'on the laws
Of England and section !, on the
countries subject TO tl'e laws Of England
merely an Introduction 10 the Com
meutaTies. you Understandable my fu-
tUre course in life was determined. En-
tering the Law department OF the Uni
versity o. Pennsylvania in IS7S 7 was
graduated IN 1850 7 passed nv examina-
ton, and was admitted 70 practice be-
fore the courts OF PhiIa6elphia short
time previous To rec living my degree
from the university.
IN the meantime my grandfather had
died and left ne a small patrinony. After
travelling in Europe for several months
with an uncle. Dr.. Woodward. a surgeon
in the army. started 20 practice IN Phila-
GeIphia- Business dragged. as was natu-
raj under the circumstances At my re-
quest the judge Of the Criminal Court
assigned me 70 number OF cases where
those who were accused had no money
70 pay lawyers. Among others I defended
a LEGAL politician, charged with perjury.
lie was person Of some Importance
knocked a hole IN the Indictment. but
the Judge ordered the case tried before
= jury The man was acquitted. I an
still rather pleased 70 say. After 7 got
/ several more Of my clients out OF jail the
! Judge struck my name on his list Of
| volunteer lawyers, and my criminal prac-
! tice was over"
Wanted to Get Married.
why did you remove to New York;
Principally because I wanted 10 get
married. Furthermore. the business Of
lawyers just then was undergoing q
great change in Philadelphia Title com
panies were supplying abstracts 10 the
purchasers Of houses and lots. and trust
companies were beginning 20 manage and
settle estates. looked into the situation
pretty carefully and concluded that
ought 10 move New York came into my
mind and SO did the West However. I
had never cared, especially. n I've on
the frontier. I went 20 New York and
talked with several cid lawyers. They
wagged their heads IN a melancholy way
and advised me 10 settle elsewhere-the
city was already crowded and a strange
young man would need plenty Of acQuaint-
ances and Influential friends. But I re-
membered the Old proverb, that where
there IS carrion the eagles DO gather.
saw plenty OF eagles. whole buildings full
OF them, and one more. OF one less. I
thought. wouldn't be noticed in the sun
total OF net results.
7 had a letter Of Introduction 70 Eu-
gene II. Lewis, q partner IN firm CON-
posed Of Daniel H. Chamberlain, for
mer governor Of South Carolina, Walter
Steuben Carter. and William 3 Horn
blower Many times aftervard I said,
wholly in g spirit Of jOcuiarity. that Car
ter made his money in the sweat Of other
mems faces. He had a system BY which
he knew all the best and ablest young
fellows IN the different law schools After
they were graduated he got them into his
office When they finally realized that
they were doing valuable work for Car
ter's firm and had naturally and reason
ably asked for pay, they were told 10 20
and another group Of youngsters. caught
as they left the law schools, we're put
IN their places
We'll, Lewis took me 10 Carter, who
said l would be received on the usual
oo1ditions-that IS to say, I could have