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Show Rnfus Choate's Thoronrhnesi. It was on principle that Rufus Choate began tha practice of law. No matter how small his fe, he did for his client every thing the case required. He shrank from no labor, but did his best in preparation prepar-ation and in argument. He once tried a dog caae bsfore a Beverly justice of the peace in an office no larger than a cobbler's cob-bler's shop, and argued it with as much learning and brilliancy as if 'tie had been before the supreme court. "He treated the dog," said a spectator, "as though he were a lion or an elephant, and the crabbed old squire with the con-i con-i sideration he wonid have paid to the I chief justice." Even when he had become the leader of the Boston bar it was noticed that the size or character of an audience had no effect on his advocacy. Some of his most brilliant arguments were delivered when there were few to hear them; he was indifferent in-different to an audience, but alive to the . principles of the case. One stormy night while residing at I Danvers he was called up at a late hour to go several miles and draw up a will for a very sick man. He went, wrote out the will, returned home and again went to bed. j Suddenly there flashed across his mind au omission in the will that possibly I might cause the testator's wishes to be misunderstood. He sprang from his bed, dressed himself rapidly, and to the inquiries in-quiries of his wife answered that he had done what must be undone. He rode in the storm to the man's house, explained the reason of his return, and drew a codicil codi-cil to the will which made everything sure. It was to such conscientious thoroughness thorough-ness that Rufus Choate's success was due, quite as much as to his eloquence and legal learning. Youth's Companion. |