University of Nebraska College of Law - Yearbook (Lincoln, NE)

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get along in life just as well if we went home and worked at somee thing else. But there were no faint hearts in the class of 1906: we had come to prepare ourselves for the noble profession, and we determined to stick to it. Our work has been interesting from the first lecture, and our associations have been most pleasant. The first few days of our work left lasting impressions with us all. The library had recently undergone a change and was not in a condition to be used, so we were sent to the State Capitol to use the library there. Wfe had heard a lecture or two, but even with this knowledge of the extent of the law were surprised to see the number of books in that library, and wondered if we were supposed to go through all of them in three short years. 'We had started. Soon, however, the work increased so that our landladies exacted higher room rent to pay for extra midnight oil. Qui' first real trials came with examinations, and we found that the old motto, Ulf at Hrst you do n't succeed, try, try again, was common law in the law school. By the end of the first year we had served as jurors and wit- nesses: we had become acquainted with our classmates and the instructors, and had begun to realize the immensity of our under- taking. Time brought changes. The next year the library was pre- sided over by a woman librarian, and we were given our first les- sons in library etiquette. Most of the class took kindly to the change, but a few of us still insisted that the proper way to study law was as we had done before, when the tables were used as foot rests, and we had the privilege of telling funny, etc., stories without the necessity of retiring to the court room. The practice court work became more interesting, for we were now lawyers, and had a bunch of freshmen to experiment on. Ora- tors appeared on the scene. VVe began breaking away from the instructions of the faculty, for we found it more convenient to glance hastily through the syllabus rather than read the entire opinion. If the syllabus was clear- 'nuff saidf' The legislature was in session. A few of us had found the court house, some had actually ventured into the supreme court. From these various sources, as well as from our law school, we were slowly acquiring legal learningf' September, 1905, brought us together for our last year's work. Still the librarian refused to smile upon us. 55

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. CLASS OF 1906 CLASS QPFICERS FIRST YEAR Firtvl' Sczzzrsfcr Scvozzd Seuzvslm' President, Charles A. Mohrman President, Francis P. O'Gara Vice-president, D. C. Chase Vice-president, J. K. Morrison Secretary, Claude A. Davis Secretary, T. T. Johnson SECOND YEAR President, Sherman E. Black President, Geo. D. Lantz Vice-president, Alfred H. Lundin Vice-president, Martin McMahon Secretary, James A. Clark Secretary, Chas. M. Rolfson THIRD YEAR President, H. N. Mattley President, James A. Clark Vice-president, Thomas H. Martin Vice-president, James T. Begley Secretary, Albert N. Mathers Secretary, Martin McMahon The members of the class of 1906 come from various states. It would be interesting to know the circumstances that were in- fluential in bringing them to the University of Nebraska to study law. Those who were holding good positions in other lines of work found it hard, no doubt, to settle down and spend both time and hard-earned cash in obtaining a legal education. Some had no expectation of following the law as a profession, and desired a legal education merely as a foundation for a business career. Most of us had felt a sort of a thrill pass over us whenever we were in the presence of a court, or when we heard points of law or the pro- fession of law discussed: and it was this, no doubt, that influenced most of us to take up the study in earnest. The Law School of the University of Nebraska olfered our class an opportunity to organize, and as an inducement promised that if we would finish its three-year course satisfactorily we should be entitled to a sheepskin of great value, to-wit: that the lawful possessor could by virtue thereof practice law in the courts of the state of Nebraska. A reconstruction period was at hand in the law department when we entered it, and we found Dean Pound at the table of information. Our future looked bright enough when we- started from home, but after parting with a registration fee, and wandering around among strangers a day or two, the thought came to many that pos- sibly, after all, we had made a mistake in our plans, and we would E4

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The faculty had changed, but they allowed no time to be wasted, for they actually posted assignments of lessons, and ex- pected us to recite the very first day. Since then it has been a continual round of work and pleasure combined. Examination week at the close of the first semester is admitted by all to have been the worst that ever happened. But Prof. Costigan only smiled and said, VVait for Property III. And now, the last semester of our course is rapidly passing. VVe seniors are a serious bunchg there is no time for Hdeviltryl' now, for we will soon be up against the real article. VVe are proud of the fact that we entered the College of Law the same year, that Dr. Roscoe Pound became Dean. Wfe hope he is likewise proud of us, his first class. He says we have grown intellectuallyg at any rate, it is our own fault and not his if we have not. ' ' A better bunch of fellows was never gathered together than those composing the class of IQO6. Having been together for three years we have come to know each other personally, and the best of feeling exists among us. Perhaps even more than our great achieve- ments and good times, we will remember in after years the pleasing personalities of our fellow classmen. VVe now begin to realize how valuable our years here have been and will be to us. VVe appreciate as never before our Dean and the corps of instructors, all of whom have labored so faithfully with us and for us. Now we must work for ourselves. And although we are anx- ious to be started in our chosen profession, it will be with many regrets that the class of 1906 leaves the College of Law of the University of Nebraska. Q v Q 5 56