Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/242

202 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS stenographic art. He was a famous and dreaded debater, belonging to Whig Hall, at Princeton, and it was conceded that he stood the best chance to win the Lynde Debate, an extemporaneous dis cussion participated in by three representatives from each of the two literary societies. But when in the preliminary trial in his society he drew out of the hat a slip labeled "Protection/ requiring him to defend that side, he refused to participate in the debate at all, because he could not advocate what he did not believe. Conceiving that the law guaranteed the surest promise of a useful career, Wilson took his law course at the University of Virginia. Meanwhile, however, he continued his studies of English gov ernment and contributed articles to the University Magazine on John Bright and Gladstone. A year of rest with his parents at Wilmington followed his leaving college, and then young Wil son engaged in the practice of law at Atlanta, Georgia, but, after a waiting experience of eigh teen months in which clients were slow in putting in an appearance, he decided that he would continue his studies in the science of government at Johns Hopkins University. They were mainly directed by Herbert B. Adams in history, and Richard T. Ely in political economy. A second year at Hop kins was spent as the holder of the Historical Fel lowship. A brilliant composition at this time was a