Page:Famous Living Americans, with Portraits.djvu/455

 432 FAMOUS LIVING AMERICANS New York. He went at it hammer and tongs, bringing to bear the same earnestness of purpose and the same intense applica- tion that had characterized his career in Hamilton College. At the end of the first year most of his fellow law students went to the bar for their examinations, as they were entitled to do. Mr. Boot, although as well prepared as any of them, and, doubtless, much better than most, decided to complete the full course before taking the examination. This was in accord with his ruling doctrine of thorough preparation in everything he undertook. He remained another year devot- ing himself especially to the underlying principles of law, thus laying a solid foundation for his future success. He gradu- ated in law in 1867, and was at once admitted to the bar. It is proverbial that young lawyers, unless they possess some special advantages, have to go through a period of semi- starvation, or something nearly akin to it, before they can suc- ceed in establishing themselves on a paying or even a living basis. Elihu Boot, however, escaped this distressing experi- ence. He succeeded from the start, and his rise in the profes- sion was really phenomenal. At twenty-five, only three years after his graduation from law school, he had established a good practice in New York City. By the time he was thirty he had secured a large corporation business, and was looked upon as a leader at the New York bar. This success was due to sheer ability and hard work, for nearly all the cases he handled were local in character, and not such as would bring him fame, or even a great degree of notoriety. For a good many years Mr. Boot pursued the course of a plodding, hard-working lawyer. It was not until 1883 that he attained anything like prominence in public life. In that year President Arthur appointed him United States District Attor- ney for the Southern District of New York. This office he held for two years, and it is unnecessary to state that he made a vigorous prosecutor. He gave his whole attention to the business in hand, and it is safe to say that the Empire State has had few, if any, more capable officials in her service. On the expiration of his term as District Attorney, Mr. Boot returned to regular practice, and for the next fourteen years n -...1