636
THE GREEN BAG
Webster Retained Retainers. — Edward M. "Who bought the houses? " the elder man Nason, superintendent of buildings for the asked, with a shade of amusement in his tone, state of New Hampshire, tells the following as a light began to dawn on his mind. "I did," replied the young man, modestly. anecdote of Daniel Webster. "The devil you did! Where did you learn One day a gentleman came to Webster's office and consulted him in regard to a pro that trick? " asked Mr. Whitmore, now fully spective lawsuit. At the close of the confer comprehending the situation. ence he paid the attorney a retainer of $100 "In your office," came the answer, in the to look after the matter. Upon returning to same modest voice. " I look out for a poor his place of business he found that his partner client, but a rich lawyer can look out for had already settled the suit, obtaining the himself." sum demanded without an attorney. He Mr. Whitmore recognized one of his own thought $100 was altogether too much for maxims. The two men shooks hands and an office fee, so he dispatched his clerk to look changed the subject. after the subject. "Mr. Webster," said the young man, " my Simultaneous-like. — In pursuance of our employer thinks you should return a part of policy of preserving from oblivion the occa your retainer. That case has been settled." sional gleams of falling gold that illumine the "Young man," said the lawyer, " you go forest of decisions through which we take our back and tell your employer that a retainer is pilgrimage, we turn from distant Texas to the something to be retained." — Boston Herald. classic precincts of the First Circuit of the United States and read with joy, " Quite Lawyer as a Client. — The late Nathaniel simultaneously, if not simultaneously with Whitmore, a lawyer of considerable promi the contract with the plaintiff," 145 Fed. 877. nence and wealth in Maine, was able to appre ciate a joke, even when aimed against himself. The Patron Saint of the Law. — In answer When he was past sixty a young man gradu to a correspondent the New York Sun recently ated from his office who became a fit rival to printed the following concerning the patron saint of the law: It has been a long, a toil his teacher. Mr. Whitmore owned some houses in the some, even a desperate search to discover the town where the young lawyer set up his office. patron saint of the Bar. Yet at the end he Partly to encourage him, and partly to save has been discovered. He is St. Yves-Helori himself trouble, he put the property into the born of a gentle family in 1253 at the Breton young man's care as agent for him. Every manor of Kaer-Martin, died at Lohanec in thing was drawn up in legal form, and the 1303. His studies were pursued at Paris, at young man fulfilled his duties most satisfac Orleans, and finally at Rennes, where he en torily. The rents came regularly, together tered official life, eventually being transferred with full accounts of repairs, which were much to Trtguler. The earnestness of his pleading less than formerly; tenants were satisfied; the the causes of the widow and the unfortunate property never paid so well before, and Mr. earned for him the honorable surname of ' ' the advocate of the poor." Bishop Alain, of Bruc, Whitmore was well pleased. Then came a brief letter stating that the raised him to the priesthood and designated property had been sold for taxes. Dumb him rector. From that time on he consecrated founded, Mr. Whitmore hastened to his agent himself to the service of the poor. He was canonized in 1347 in the pontificate of Clement to demand what this meant. "How does it happen that I am sold out VI at Avignon. " The tribe of lawyers have assumed him for their patron," is the mis for taxes? " he asked. "There was nothing in the agreement about chievous comment of another Breton lawyer taxes," explained the young man, handing of a later epoch, M. de Kerdanet. The same to his former client the signed agreement. authority assures us that St. Yves is the only "Had taxes been mentioned, I should have lawyer known to have attained to the honor of being canonized. About him has grown paid them."
