Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/144

114 it was, even at that date, a place of considerable importance.

Judge Charles E. Glidden, of Mahoning County, who had an office at Youngstown, practised both there and at Canton, and was fairly well known to McKinley, who, as a boy, had often heard the judge argue a case in court. Without delay the young soldier applied to the judge for an opportunity to study law.

"So you are going to give up the army," said the judge. "Why, I heard that you were expecting a commission as captain of the Regulars."

"I think I can get a commission in the regular army if I want it," answered McKinley. "But I have come to the conclusion that I have had enough of army life."

"Don't you know the woods are full of lawyers?"

"Good ones?" queried the youthful major.

"Well, no, not good ones," replied the judge, who was a pleasant man with whom to deal. "Good ones are rather scarce."

"Then, perhaps, if I become a good