Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-13

George ]. Brennan, who writes
the Who's Who" column in the
Philadelphia Inquirer, presents this
interesting story about William L.
Schaffer, the attorney general:
Pennsylvania protest against the
attempt of the Wilson administra-
ton to force an, increase in the
rates for telephone service, so elo-
quently voiced by Attorney General
William I. Schaffer, before the Dau-
phin county court, evoked from
Henry Graham .Ashmead, the vet
eran historian of Delaware county,
a tribute of esteem and admiration
for Governor Sprouts official legal
adviser, which came from the heart
and covered the full period of the
career of this live wire of the new
administration.
THE example found in contem-
plating the obstacles which have con-
fronted the pathway of distinguish
ed men in their rise TO positions of
commanding emihence," said Mr..
Ashmead, will ever remain an OBJ
ject lesson to youth struggling for
prominent place in the fierce battle
of life, presented in every field of
human. endeavor. This lesson is
taught in the life story. of all sue
cessful men and will be found in
that of William Irwin. Schaffer, now
in the limelight as Attorney General
of the Componwealth. His early life
is identified with Delaware county,
although his natal place was Ger
mantown, Philadelphia, where he
was born February II, 1867. When
he was mere child his father en-
gagged in business in Chester, on the
site of the present Crozier Building,
the home of the Delaware County
Trust Company. His rudimentary
education was acquired in the pub
lie schools of that city but at fifteen,
owing to heavy financial reverses in
his parents business enterprises, he
was compelled to rely on his own
endeavors and he began his active
career as u newsboy vending the
Chester Evening News and the Ches-
ter Times on the streets of that city.
Yet he never abandoned his pur-
pose to acquire an education and
with that object in view every spare
moment, day or night, he devoted
to studious application in mastery
of useful knowledge. Professor
Charles Foster, then superintendent
of the Public Schools of Chester
4. I.,I ~ III
gence and attractive personality, Of
fered to hear young Schaffer's les
sons at night, which proposition was
promptly and gladly accepted. Pos
sessing indomitable will, a quickness
of perception, and a tenacious mem
ory, he absorbed and digested his
studies with rapidity, so that as q
youth he was noticeable for his abun-
dant vocabulary and conversational
abilities.
when seventeen he entered the
office of William 3. Broomall, then
the recognized leader of the bar oi
Delaware county, and his studious
habits secured him the confidence
of his preceptor, who, many times
before Mr.. Schaffer was called tc
the bar. gave to him the manage.
ment of litigations in minor tribu.
nails.
During his first year as student
almost without any tuition, he
! taught himself shorthand writing
and was soon recognized as an ex.
pert stenographer, an acquisition
! that later in life in his large prac.
tice, he found of utmost Importance
He was admitted to the bar of Della
ware county on February Il, 1897
the. twenty-hrst anniversary of hi.
birth. and when twenty-five he wa!
admitted to practice before the So
preme Court, the youngest man il
half a century who has received
that honor.
About the time he was licensed
to practice" continued Mr.. Ashmead
"Chester and its neighborhood wer'
turmoiled by a series of fires which
had succeeded each other will
slight intermission until finally thu
, police announced that the depart
ment had traced the outrages t.
some young men, whom the officeri
termed tfirebugs.s The latter wer'
arrested, indicted and brought Il
trial at the March criminal court o.
| that year. The accused had but lit
tie means. Mr.. Schafe as a younl
lawyer who had yet to win his spurs
was retained with a trifiing fee Il
defend one Morton. one of the ac
cused. This mn was generally be
llieved. to be remote descSudant o.