Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/397

 ADELAIDE AND VICINITY ?,7 Sir J. H. Symon, K.C.M.G., Q.C. P likely E RHAPS the growing-pains of an infant country are more apt to bring the greatest men to the front than old established communities. The one may produce a mute, inglorious Milton, but the very struggles and travail of the other render such a circumstance less The population is small, and under responsible government every man is aware that his opinion and his vote may have a distinct influence. The oppor- tunities, the possibilities, the en- couragements afforded, offer a great chance of success in a public career. During the history of South Australia there have been several men whose irrepressible talent and commonsense have lifted them to the apex of local fame. Some have been gifted with a power which Lord Rosebery says is greater than talent — the power to lead ; some by the sheer force of commonsense have made names which shall be perpetuated in history ; and some have risen by reason of a happy blending of these qualities, and among them not the least has been Sir J. H. Symon, Q.C. His splendid intellect and his oratorical ])owers have now been recognised for manv vears ; and whether at the Bar, where he is foremost, or in an oration on public affairs, his talent is known beyond the limits Hammer & Co., fhoto of the Proviuce. Josiah Henry Symon was born at Wick, in the County of Caithness, in Scodand, on September 27, 1846. From there, before he was a year old, his parents removed to the beautiful town of Stirling, famous in history and in song, whose old grey casde looks upon many battle-fields, from Bannockburn downwards, and there he received his education. He was dux of the High School in June, 1862, before he had reached his sixteenth year. In 1863 he went to Edinburgh, where he completed his education. He arrived in South Australia before he was 20 years of age, and immediately entered into articles, and began the study of law under his cousin, Mr. J. D. Sutherland, of Mount Gambler. The