Excerpt from Life Sketches of Eminent Lawyers, American, English and Canadian: To Which Is Added Thoughts, Facts and Facetiæ

Nearly three years ago the author began a somewhat systematic study of legal biography for the purpose of intelligently gathering copy for an engraving of famous lawyers and judges. A year later two editions of photogravure groups of one hundred and forty-four Eminent American, English and Canadian Lawyers was published a portrait, in the language of Thomas Carlyle, being often superior in real instruction to half a dozen written biographer, as biographies are written, and as a small lighted candle by Wth the biographies can be read, and some human interpretation be made of them. Short life-sketches of the very briefest nature of each person appearing in the galaxy of portraits were prepared by the kindly aid of some fifty lawyers and judges throughout the territory comprised to further supple ment and explain the art work. These being re-edited and some what amplified are herein given. The author's studies, however, were continued and notes made, with no intention of publica tion, until it was believed many interesting reminiscences of nearly every personality had been gathered, and as Dr. Charming has well said, an anecdote is worth whole pages of biography, it was deemed advisable to supplement the life-sketches with these notes. They follow the Sketches, being more closely printed, and constitute the Thoughts, Facts and Facetiae of the work.

The labor of preparation has been great, but withal fascinating and instructive. Many Sketches will be found to be unannotated, others but sparsely so. This is due to the plan adopted, the informa tion obtainable, and the subject treated. Many readers will doubtless criticise the frequent quotations, but to quote conspicuously and well, says Bovee, an able author and lawyer, requires taste, judg ment (which two qualities the author hopes have been exercised) and erudition, a feeling for the beautiful, an appreciation of the noble, and a sense of the profound. Shortcomings and errors will be discovered, but if any one is amused and instructed, and at the same time lead to study more extendedly the lives of the foremost men at the bar, this work will have sufficient excuse for its existence.

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