Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-06-01
Americas, Ca, June /, 1910.
TOO MANY YOUNG GEORGIANS
TURNING TO THE LAW.

III iOOhluS OhCl the iioLo VI E'AS - gu
Mating classes of the several Georgia
colleges ones attention is inevitably
attracted by the large number OF these
young men who contemplate making
the law their profession. The number
entering the legal fraternity appears
to be out of all proportion to those
who have other pursuits in view. al
together out of proportion, we mag
inc, to the states real needs in that
line or the increasing volume of bust
ness from which attorneys must dig
their livelihood
It is really lamentable, the large
number of healthy, vigorous, amb
ton, bright and we'll trained young
men who propose to bury themselves
in the practice of the law, with such
doubtful prospects of any decided pro-
fessional or material success. In ev-
cry city, town and hamlet in Georgia
the number of attorneys is out of all
proportion to the business offering. If
the brifless barrister is not a prepon-
bordering element in the profession ia
this state the attorney whose clients
are few and far between, and whose
earnings are so meagre as to consu-
tute a very poor living, are to be met
with on all sides.
NTonvy Of +b0Co NTH
bright hopes are soon discouraged at
the prospect and fortunately for them
selves betake themselves to some
other calling that promises more lu-
crative returns. Others hang on and
Skin out living" And not few
become anything but a credit to the
bar by the methods to which they
resort to earn the elusive dollars nee
essary to maintain existence. The
number of pronounced successes is very
small, and even the number credited
with making ordinary good incomes
is not so great as not to leave vast
army whose earnings must fall to a
very low basis.
It is a great pity that so many Geor-
gia young men are deluded into adopt
ing the law as their life's calling at
a time when there are so many opens
ings for the trained intellect and the
ambitious soul, openings that would
yield far richer material fruits for
the individual and far greater bene-
fits to the state. There is no pecu-
liar honor attaching to the profession
of the law these days. Just as much
honor is awarded the man of equal
calibre in other avocations. And the
tendency to accord just as greac a
need of praise and honor to the sue
cessful agriculturalist, the successful
merchant, the successful manufac-
turer, the successful engineer, is con-
stantly growing. Many of the young
men entering the law year after year
would be immeasurably better off
if they would devote their time and
brains and energies to scientific, inten-
siye farming, for instance No calling
affords greater opportunity for men
tai expansion than this, none gives
truer independence of action, greater
scope for study and the prac-
Jical application of the results of per-
scnal research and experience In a
Gay like this, W Zen science and inven-
ton are the nandn,aidens Of agli-
culture, when in every department
Of agriculture the highly trained mind
is needed, it is more than a pity that
so many misguided boys stray off
after the barren husks that come to
so many struggling attorneys from
one end of the state to the other. in
stead of consecrating their lives to
pursuit that not only gives daily in
dependence of life, annie leisure for
study and reflection, h-- rewards it's
intelligent and progressive servitor
with a larger reward than any but the
very exceptional among the legal fra
ternity ever obtain.
An overloaded profession with
mighty few prizes, is the impression
one must have of the legal life in
Georgia. Why cannot the fact be i'm
pressed on the young men and the
thoughts of more of them diverted in
to other channels 1t would save
many of them from cruel, bhghting
disappointment and secure the state
their services in lines where their use
their rewards more commensurate
with their efforts.