Year: 1861

al eHcn cOunteHanCe Us ne pIOCeeueu, uu
til his eyes fell upon young man O
brilliant appearance who has since riser
to a high position, Here he paused
again, reflected and hesitated.


All are alike strangers to me, he said
at length, addressing the Court. We
cannot always safely judge from appear
ances. l shall be grateful if your honor
will assign me counsel.


l observed Father Miles busiy EN-
gagged in writing something on a scrap Of
paper, which, in his haste, he had torn
from a hy-leaf of volume at his elbow.
Now, Father Miles had been one of the
examiners at the time my legal acquire
ments were subjected to the inqusorial
ordeal of the Court, and intuitively felt
as if that scrap of paper was intended to
have some connection with myself


AT the time of my examination he had
asked but single question. 1t may not
seem OF much importance in testing the
legal qualifications of an applicant for ad-
mission to the bar yet can assert truth
fully, from experience, that it is an es-
sentia requisite of successful practice.


What is the first duty of a lawyer

when client seeks his services?' ?


The question was put to the class, of
which as the members were arranged al
phabetically, according TO their names,
but that time round inversed in the order
Of interrogatory, | chanced to be the tail
and the last to answer. The information
was not found in any of the elementary
works read by the applicants, but belong
ed rather to the unwritten law of prac-
tice, with which they had not then be-
come acquainted. As was to be expect
ed they successfully failed to give sat
isfactory answer.


Fortunately, it was otherwise with my
self. knew enough of the previous life
and practice of the quest;oner TO form a
right conclusion as to what he regarded
the first duty Of lawyer


To receive fee replied.


Right said the old gentleman, with
a smile of satisfaction. You are quail
fed to practice


It is not easy to conjecture why, but this
little incident came to my mind the mo-
ment l saw him scribbling on the scrap of
paper And | thought Of it afterwards,
when ! discovered the purpose Tor which
the writing was intended.


Having folded the paper over in the
middle, he wrote a word or two on the
back Of it, and handed it to the gentleman
next him. and he to the next, and SO on
until it reached the bench. l then per-
ceived that it was addressed to the Judge,
who opened it, and glanced ct the con-
tents. Whatever they were, it was evil
dent from what Immediately followed,
that they met his entire appreciation, for
a smile passed over his countenance, and
be said, addressing me by name


Charles Carville, l will assign you as
counsel for the prisoner


Had a bombshell exploded ia our
midst, could not have been more sud
denly surprised. l started to my feet,
stared at the Judge for a moment, and
then resumed my seat, completely bewil-
dered.


drew a long, deep breath to exptl the
involuntary emotion, which, if not abso-
lutely fear, was something so near akin
to ii, as scarcely 10 deserve another name.
And then I addressed the court. elf
your honor please | began-but my
voice sounded unnatural, and the words
stuck in my throat


The Judge looked down into my con-
fused countenance with a benign smile,
and spoke TO me in tone of encourage
ment, producing the very effect he de-
sired. Proceed, Mr., Carville, he said,
laying aside his pen, with which he had
been making memoranda on the calen-
dar.


This is very sudden l stammered.


Surely he replied. But TO more
so than it would have been to another


1t is duty with which many present
are familiar, l returned.


And one you ought to be able to dis
charge be argued.


1T is entirely new to me- insisted.


1T was once new to every one,' he re-
joined.


was completely nonplussed.


Besides he continued, glancing at
the scrap of paper which Father Miles
bad sent him, competent examiners have
certified your ability, and one of them as
sures me that you evinced practical
knowledge of your profession greatly in
advance of your class


knew in an instant what it was the
examiner alluded to, though l am conf
dent the Judge did not till Afterwards
And | as quickly perceived that il was