66 The Farmstead 



Several years ago, a wealthy manufacturer 

 of the state of New York sent a bright son 

 to a law school, to help prepare hmi for a 

 business career. At the end of his course 

 the proud father was present at commence- 

 ment, and, in the course of conversation with 

 his son, said : " Well, John, I suppose you 

 have learned a great deal." John answered, 

 '^ I have learned one thing which I think is of 

 value ; and that is, if any legal matter comes 

 up in the course of my business, to consult the 

 very best lawyer I can find." That young man 

 had really learned something worth far more than 

 the cost of his course in the college of law. 



There is, perhaps, no other of the so-called 

 learned professions which is so exacting and 

 which requires more devotion and study for its 

 mastery. Some of the brightest men in this 

 country have devoted a lifetime to the study 

 and practice of law, only to have just entered 

 its broad field as they have been compelled to 

 lay down their work. How futile, then, would 

 be the attempt to make every man his own 

 lawyer ! The real purpose of this chapter is 

 to open the eyes of the farmer to the necessity 

 of a closer relationship between himself and the 

 lawyer, — the family lawyer, if you please, hav- 

 ing his confiilence to tlu^ same extent as that 

 of the family doctor. 



