564 LEGAL DEPARTMENT. 



objects, he perceives them all discolored and distorted." 



The going to law is well illustrated by the story of two men who went 

 to court about the ownership of a cow. The lawyers had the milk dur- 

 ing the time of litigation, although the two men had to provide it ample 

 provision, and at the end the court took the cow to pay the judge for the 

 time he had lost in considering to whom the cow belonged. 



Not every man can be a lawyer, yet every man can know enough law 

 to do business in such a manner as to protect his interests. lyCt every 

 contract be worded so that two meanings cannot be taken, have it prop- 

 erly signed in the presence of a witness who signs his name as witness, 

 and there can be but little trouble. 



It is useless to pay a lawyer or Justice to draw up an ordinary contract 

 or bill of sale. 



CONTRACTS. 



What is a Contract ? An agreement between two or more par- 

 ties to do or not to do some speciiied thing is called a contract. It may 

 be verbal, (by word of mouth) or written. 



This subject is a limitless one, for scarcely a day passes without one 

 making a contract. The simplest agreement one with another is a con- 

 tract, and limitless as they are in number, and varied in their require- 

 ments; they are all governed by very general rules. 



Contract Not Valid. An agreement to do a thing contrary to 

 law, or a thing forbidden by law, can not be enforced. As for example; 

 the law in the state of New York, directs every teacher in the public 

 schools to attend an "Institute" once a year, and compels the disrict to 

 pay for the time so spent. Any agreement contrary to the above law 

 can not be enforced. 



Things Necessary, There are certain things necessary, without 

 which there can be no contract. First there must be parties to the con- 

 tract, and they must be legally qualified; second, there must be a rea- 

 sonable consideration; third, there must be the thing to be done or not to 

 be done, (subject matter); fourth, there must be the consent of all par- 

 ties to the agreement; fifth there must be a time when the contract is 

 to be completed. Thus every contract must have five essentials, par- 

 ties, CONSIDERATION, SUBJECT MATTER, MUTUAL CONSENT, and 

 TIME. 



Parties. Those who make a contract must be considered competent 



