The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-08-21
hRlrlsA LEGAL scRlREs.


The ancient scribes, as the copyists
and expositors of the law of Moses,
were held in reverence by the people.
Nowadays, the persons designated as
"scribes" are not to be envied. The
term is applied to the law writer's,
who gain a precarious living by copy
ing legal documents.
Most solicitors employ special ZEN
grossing" clerks to prepare deeds and
documents for signature, but now and
again they are compelled, through
press of work, to call in the assistance
of the scribes, through the medium of
the law stationer. The scribes are, for
the most part, but casually employed,
but every law stationer is in touch
with an outside staff, upon whom he
, can call in case of an emergency
in the ranks Of the modern scribes
are many who, for one reason or am
other, have lost their footing in life
Nowadays, the persons designated as
broken-down solicitors clerks, who
chance to possess what is known as a
legal hand; while one-time solicit
tors, and even barristers, are to be
found working as scribes.
Here an existence can still be eked
out, and, provided the scribe is steady,
and is fortunate, he may even manage
to make a fair living His character
is not too closely inquired into, and
the fact of his being shabby.genteel
does not matter in the least. The
well-dressed scribe is rarely seen.
The chief thing is the work he can |
do, for a certain standard of writing |
is required before work is intrusted to !!
would-be scribe. Then, again, a |
scribe must, like the chemist who |
makes up prescriptions, be able to
read accurately anything set before |
him, for mistake in engrossing a |
deed is likely to end his career as a
law writer.
The earnings of the scribes vary
considerably, for sometimes they are
idle for days at time When there
is nothing doing" they gather to.
gether at the law stationer's, and i
smoke and talk while waiting in case
anything comes in. When work does
come, they make money literally
hand over fist"
They are paid according to the
amount of writing done by them,
generally at the rate of a shilling for
eight or ten foIios of seventy-two
words each for parchment, and a
a dozen foIios for Laper
writing. When it is considered that
most of them are fluent writer's, and
can comfortably manage twelve to six.
teen tolos per hour, it will be seen
that when work is plentiful their
wages quickly amount up It is no nm
common thing for them to work all
through the night, for the periods Of
slackness bring home the necessity of
making hay while the sun shines"
Inc writing is generally done in
some room at the law stationer's. M
restriction is put upon the men. who
work with their pipes in full 90. From
constant application the work be-
comes to great extent mechanical
and often the chorus of a song is in
swing while the pens are flying along
at full speed.
The law scribe, for all his shabby
exterior, is often a man of good edu.
cation. Many of them possess a sound
knowledge of law, which, however
seeing the source whence they are 70.
is not surprising. The some
what buzzling legal phraseology pre.
sents no difficulty to them, and hence
1t is that the scribe is in no sense q
mere copying machine, for any slight
error in drawing a deed is, invariablv
noticed, and the draft returned to tbe
sender for correction.-London Elk.
change.