The New York herald., 1922-03-26

CONcTy that the Uuy ndu oo 9Li0NAh5Ay
ceeied in his own schooling, he gave him
the books which Martin desired and also
told him that he could have any advice
or help whenever he wished to CALL
The boy knew the books he wanted. Bear
ing the precious copies Of Blackstone un.
der his arm he went back to the gang and
informed them that he was going to leave
his job. They regretfully parted but all
agreed that he was wise beyond his years
to follow his plans. AS he left them, these
men with whom he had worked and lived,
these pieces of driftwood from the sea of
life thrown together haphazardly by
chance for a time, Martin knew that he
was entering upon his manhood, and that
to them as tutors he owed debt of eter.
( nal gratitude for their wise teaching and
their kindness. They could so easily have
marred the boys life. Instead, they helped
to form the character which was the be-
ginning of many great man of to-day.
A kindly Dutch baker consented to take
Martin into his employ when he discovered
why he wanted to work in the bakery. 1t
was the very place. as the boy somehow
knew for him to stay as long as neces-
sary, as it provided him with a good many
hours in which to read his Blackstone
All night he sat beside the huge oven,
patiently and methodically changing the
long holders filled with dough and consci-
entiously preventing the bread from burn
ing. He made for himself system which
Ii
study at the exact moment necessary for
either taking the holders out of the oven
or putting them in.
Amid the warm and ofttimes overpower-
ingly hot fumes of the fragrant bread he
would memorize the intricate phrases OF
law and would repeat aloud, so that he
might hear how they would sound in the
court house. whole sentences and para
graphs from the book.
He continued this work for over a year
and half and then with the money he
had saved he departed for school. Here he
studied for one session, three short months,
and returning to the village he immedi-
ately borrowed from his former hero, who
was now his friend, more law books. He
again worked and studied and decided that
he would try the examinations which were
given every year at the court house for ap-
plicants to the bar.
Verbal Bar Examinations
Before Faculty of Lawyers
The examinations were verbal. The best
lawyers sat as the faculty and passed judg-
ment upon the eligibility of the young
men. The cross-questioning endured for
several days and it was of the most Cruel
ing nature. In addition to the handicap of
no college degree or real schooling, Mar
tin had to fight his tremendous shyness,
and it was herculean effort for him to
stand daily in the presence of these learned
men and face the obvious contempt OF his
fellow applicants and be able to answer in.
telligently the questions freighted with the
most involved legal perplexities which
could be thought of.
But he brought all his determination to
bear, and feeling that nothing could swerve
him from his goal he answered with ease
all the questions. His inquisitors were
amazed at his knowledge and when they
discovered that he had no schooling other
than what he had drilled into himself
they we're aghast
His imperturbability under the fire of their
attack: his profound knowledge of the law,
so dspassionately and serenely displayed,
filled them with astonishment, and after
Martin had retired from the examining
room, unquestionably leading the others In
his replies, they one and all heartily con-
graduated him, and at the age OF 19
Martin Littleton received his first reward
for the years of determined effort which
he had undergone. He received his license
and his precious right to practice the pro-
fession of law in the United States OF
America.
The editor of the Fort Worth Dispdrcn,
the leading paper of Texas, happened to
be in the court house when Martin was
standing his examinations. and so great
was the newspaper mans admiration for
the brilliant knowledge displayed by this
boy of 10 that he wrote special paragraph
about II and published it in the paper
This. together with the obtaining of his
license, was almost more fame than the
boy could endure. He had for the first
time in his life become figure Of i'm
portance He felt that no longer did he
belong to himself, but to the world, and 1t
was with prayer OF thanksgiving that he
started his career as a lawyer.
Almost the very day after he had re-
ceived his license he was called upon to act
as a witness in small shooting affair.
This was his first public participation in
legal matter and also the first time that