Yale University Law School - Yale Law Reporter Yearbook (New Haven, CT)

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'I'lIl'I VALIC SlIlNlll,I'1. 49 Shortly after our arrival, we received an address of welcome from President Dwight, who informed us of the honor of being a Yale graduate of any depart- ment of the University, and made us feel as though we were already practicing attorneys in fact. Soon after this notable occasion, we were informed that the Dean would be very glad to see us individu- ally in his ofhce. where We we1'e kindly requested to pay our tuition in advance. Well do we remember our consternation, as we stood in this position, won- dering where we were to get enough money together to keep on with our studies, and not be obliged to borrow from our fond parents, or the Hon. Solomon Fry. Not many days after our introduction to the school, we noticed that several of our members had adorned themselves with various insignia, in order to show their pride in becoming members of our great Uni- versity. One man was decked out with Yale buttons, Yale pins, and wore a Yale flag for a ncckerchiefg another man approached as near as possible to the true blue in the shade of the clothing which covered his lower limbsg still another was the proud possessor of a cravat which made one feel blue enough to take to strong drink. One after another, we met our different Professors, and commenced the serious business of our law studies. This being our first year in the profession, we studied Elementary Law, that most estimable book of Prof Robinson's, under the instruction of the author, and pursued the same for many months. We now feel the great benefit of this elementary

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school. How proud he seemed as he pointed out the JUNIOR YEAR. Well do we remember the day when we first made our appearance at the Yale Law School, after having climbed the beautiful stairway to the palatial quarters, where we were for two years to grind out enough law to enable us to finally try dog cases before Jus- tices of the Peace, in our native towns. The hrst impression of our new home was indeed one never to bc forgotten. If by chance, we hap- pened to have any cspccial friend in the Senior class, he was sure to wish to show us thc sights of the library, with its rows of pondcrous legal tomcs, in a subdued whisper, designated the presiding t of thc spot, Dr. Robinson: then escorted us on toe to thc door of the sanclmzz szrfzffoffzzm, where Dean sat on his throne of state presiding over destinics of thc school. Finally he explained beauties of the Yale system, and commenced and lcity tip- the the the the often repeated discussion as to the respective merits of the text book and the case methods. We were shown also the room where we were to receive instruction in the intricacies of the law, and noticed with pride the magnificent busts upon the walls, and decided that when we were graduated we would present the school with a composite bust of our class, thus typifymg the young idea and perpetuating the glory of ,Q4 to future generations of law students.

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50 THE VALIC SIIINGLE. course, in that it has formed the ground work upon which we are building our legal education. Professor Watrous commenced his course on Torts, illustrating it with many valuable cases, and instruct- ing us in the practical working of Courts of Justice. We XVCYC warned of the extreme danger of jostling any passer-by on the street and also shown the great benefit to be derived to our pocketbooks by keeping our mouths discreetly closed when we feel inclined to call our friends hard names. Our class was fortunate enough to be the first to recite to the new instructor, Mr. Buckland, and we all feel that we owe very much to him, for his kind interest in our work, and the clear and concise man- ner in which he stated the various points of law to us. We are especially grateful for the excellent review which he gave us before our Hnal examina- tions, sacrihcing much of his valuable time for our good, ingratiating himself thereby in our esteem and respect. Those of our number who were still infants immediately rushed off to their tailors to order new suits of clothes under the fond hope that they might plead infancy as a defense in any action brought by the hard-hearted merchant. Many were the schemes plotted in greatest secrecy whereby the most pressing creditors might be put off or outwitted and loud were the praises of Mr. Buckland for helping the poor hard-working students to thwart the bloated bond holders who were so eagerly striving to pounce upon them. We were told by Professor Robinson that in all probability we would not make enough money out of our profession to provide a bone for our