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Vol. VI.

No.?.

BOSTON.

March, 1894.

ICHABOD BARTLETT. By Frank W. Hackett. LAWYERS as a rule are generous in and you will be struck with the regularly their estimates of each other. It may recurring fact, not only that the deceased with truth be said that little of the spirit of was a man of surpassing ability, but that it envy or detraction manifests itself among was his fortune to have begun practice at a practitioners at the Bar. Their rivalries are Bar remarkable for great lawyers. In proof manly and above-board. If a new-comer of the assertion that the Bar referred to was shows unusual intellectual power he is of a standard exceptionally high, we are heartily welcome, for the simple reason that treated to the names of certain leaders, and assured that they were " giants in the law." contact with such a man is a positive ad vantage to opponents. No one who has To us of the present day how many of these had experience in trying causes is at a loss are names — and nothing else! to apprehend just what Daniel Webster This exhibition of mutual respect is highly meant when, speaking of the training that creditable to the profession. Indeed, it is a he underwent from having to meet the cel characteristic of which we may justly be ebrated Jeremiah Mason as his antagonist, proud. It cannot be otherwise than influ he said : "Mr. Mason always put me up to ential in attracting young men to the prac all that I knew." tice of the law as a calling. Certain it is That the Bar really is, in the full sense of that a sense of brotherhood has more than the word, a fraternity, is seen when a lawyer once encouraged the young attorney to hold of prominence dies. According to time- steadily on during that long, dreary period, honored custom, such an event is made the when it seems to him as though a client occasion for calling a Bar-meeting, to adopt would never come. It is a trait, however, resolutions in memory of the deceased. that must be taken duly into account, when While the public may take no great interest we attempt to assign to any one lawyer his in what is going on, the brethren of the Bar just rank among his fellows. can generally be depended upon to attend Making allowance for the propensity to in fair numbers. There is always more or overestimate the abilities of those for whom less speaking to the resolutions. The re obituary words are spoken, we are safe in marks are kindly in tone, often eulogistic, concluding that the American Bar at no and nearly always sincere. So with the period of its history has ever lacked the death of a judge. Our reports, .both state presence of strong, intellectual men as lead and federal, are freely sprinkled with the ers. Moreover, the average ability of our proceedings of the Bar upon the demise of lawyers is probably higher to-day than ever those who have reached distinction as jurists before. This is unquestionably so in re or as advocates. Examine these records, spect to legal attainments.