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

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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

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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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THE YALE Sl'IlNUl.1'l. SI dog, to say nothing of the necessaries for ourselves, consequently we often pictured ourselves clad in ebb- tidc trousers, a green frock coat cut high in the waist, a battered high hat and, covering all, a perennial Hood's Sarsaparilla expression. Nevertheless we still plodded on, bound to win if we could. Professor Baldwin instructed us in Contracts, and introduced us to the elementaryprinciples of Agency and Partnership, using as a text book Mr. Theophilus Parson's great work, where the author so adroitly tal-:es back what he has just laid down as law. Pro- fessor Baldwin cleared away the mists and steered us forth into clear waters. We also studied Contracts under Professor Beers, and learned the great danger which any young man incurs in calling too often upon any young lady of his acquaintance, and mentally resolved that in the future, we would carefully write out our conversations in advance, commit them to memory, and thereby avoid the possibility of a suit for breach of promise Our class also was the first to receive instruction from Judge Perry, in the elements of Evidence, which course, although it seemed very difhcult to us at the time, was of great value to us. We were also distinguished in being the last class which Judge Loomis taught in the school. We desire to express our deep appreciation of the interest which he showed in us, and will ever remember with pride our course under a man who so distinguished himself on the bench and in public life, by his high qualities of mind and character. We all have the highest respect for Mr. Pepper as a gentleman and a lawyer, but we decided that his