Some Delights of the Legal Profession. ' the conscience of the civilized world and caused much remedial legislation, instanced by Lord Denman's act in England (1843) and many similar ones in this country, removing from persons accused of crime all disabilities to testify in their own behalf. Since the delights of the legal profession are many and it is impracticable to touch upon more than a few of them in an article of this kind, one more only will be con sidered. Beyond the pleasure which the student derives from the humorous and serious aspects of the law and the prac titioner from the comedy and tragedy of its forum, and perhaps above them both, lies the delight of the entente cordiale between mem bers of the bar. It is a remarkable fact that there is little or no jealousy between men of the highest order in the legal profession. Of course there are exceptions, but the rule is that any reputable member of the bar is ever ready and willing to give a full meed of praise to one of his brethren who performs noteworthy service in the profession. It must not be forgotten that the rules of the profession are as well known as those of any game of chance, and since legal matters are
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vastly more consequential than mere play, those rules are inviolable by all men of honor of the legal cult. No man can survive an intentional infraction of any of the well known rules obtaining in the practice of the law. Ability does not efface from a coun tenance the brand which is placed upon it by willful disregard of the ethics of the pro fession. Hence it is a source of very great and unceasing pleasure to gentlemen of the profession to have to do with each other and with their brethren who sit upon the bench. A lawyer of great sagacity once said that no man of even ordinary ability and good char acter who applies himself diligently to the practice of the law ever fails of success; and certainly no man of pre-eminent character and ability ever failed of high honors as well as continual pleasure in contact with his brethren in this noble profession. Truly the law, as has been said, is "the royal road to fame," and though its ascent may be steep and difficult yet there are many pleasant prospects by the wayside and many cozy inns thereon wherein the travelers do oft assemble and make merry.
AN UNSCRUPULOUS LAWYER AND AN INGENIOUS DEFENCE. By JOHN DE MORGAN. ONE of the wittiest, shrewdest, most successful, learned but unscrupulous men at the Irish bar, a century ago, was James Costelloe. He had the reputation of never losing a case, though many of his fel low members of the profession shrank from endorsing the means he used to win such a character. To his intimate friends he de clared that while capital punishment was the penalty for trivial crimes he was justified in adopting even unscrupulous methods to save the life of an accused. Costelloe was a descendant of an ancient and respected family of the County Mayo.
His father was a landed proprietor and lav ished a small fortune on the education of his hopeful son. Having received the best primary educa tion at private and public schools, James Costelloe became a student of the Middle Temple in the year 1744. He was in his glory in the British metropolis, for besides being possessed of plenty of money he was a "fellow of infinite jest," a good comrade, full of life, fond of social pleasures, witty and the inspiring genius of any circle in which he might be. Having served his terms, he was called to
