University of Michigan Law School - Quad Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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x 5 1 V x i Q E E If A 4 I V 1

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I am born sir, of L1 long line of Virginia lawyers, and we are LI race proud of our ancestors and their calling. I was trained to follow them. Sir, I cannot tell you at what cost that training was I The war left us impoverished, and I was sixteen when it was over, ready in years for college. There was no money, But, sir, Ihave 11 mother. She is an indomitable woman! YVC worked early and we worked late, she with pen, with governess-books, with needle, and I-wherever a gentleman's son could go, sir. It was very cheerless, but we were brave, we never faltered. You see Iwas the last of the race, sir, my father and only brother were killed at the first Bull Run. , ' HI was thirty-five when I was admitted to the bar. It had taken a long time, but that day was worth it. Sir, my mother was beautiful that day! H Hill the long trouble is over', I said to her, 'I can take care of you now I 1 I f'lVe settled in Richmond where we had used to live. My father's name brought me some clients. But I was too late in the field. And Richmond living could not be made cheap with so many near who knew the family. H Wfe went,--but sir 'I cannot tell you of our wanderings,-of the dismal offices we moved hopefully into and patiently out of. My mother, sir, is an indomitable woman l By and by we came here. Some one said,-Qsome one-who should have been a worthy authority-that these small northern communities are exceedingly litigious. They may be, sir, they maybe, but '7-there wasla shade of grimness aboutthe close-knit mouth,-4' none of their litigation has fallen under my charge. 'fMy mother could not endure the northern climate. life came in late October, November nearly killed her, and in Decem- ber I sent her back to friends in Norfolk, where I have since supi ported her. There you have the outline, sir, of my past. But the kernel of it all, the key to my present trouble lies in this,-my mother has never known that .I have abandoned the law. She supposes me practicing and with some measure of success, at last. I believe it actually would kill her if she knew to what end all those yea1'S of privation were endured, if she knew to what level the family pride has sunk , !

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ff She said in her letter that she will be here the second day after court opens, and that she desires very much to hear some case of mine, and will stay until one comes off. ff I might tell her that none comes off this session But, sir, unfortunately in writing of my affairs I have told her of a certain case docketed for this month. I have described it, have outlined my course of procedure in it, in short I have given a circum- stantial account of it,-a complicated case in chanceryg and it is that case she expressly desires to hear. I H I might say it was postponed, but then, sir, she-she would be disappointed, would go home disappointed. I can hardly face that, sir. Circumstances may have sadly Warped my moral judg- ment, but I think I would prefer deceiving to disappointing her. I-can you suggest any means by which this deception might be practicable? A course suggests itself but-we sometimes hold mock-trials at college and - , ' He could go no further, nor did he gather strength todo so, and there was a long silence. The rain splashed from the overtllled eaves to the walk out- side. , ' L ff I think I understand , Fred said, and there was a serious accent in his voice not iwonted there, 'F' and it may be I can help you just as you want. There are alot of the older fellows,..'who like you, and who would think it sport, -you know how I mean,- tot-77 I HThank you, sir, thank you -Goliath had risen with extended hand,-ff you do understand me-perfCC'flY, but I do not feel quite equal to hearing the plan discussed just yet It is a very hard thing to face. It would be hideous, sir, hideous and degrading for any other sake. But my mother is old, very old . l1- CD2 Second 0lle No, she never suspected a thing. I am sure of it. Don't Worry, don't worry at all. lust lic Still - I Fred spoke slowly, soothingly as one would to a child. H6 was kneeling by the bed with one arm thrown lightly acrOSS U16 spare little frame that hardly made the bed-clothes curve. 13