Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1887 — Counsel for the Snake. [ARTICLE]

Counsel for the Snake.

The relations between counsel and client in England are conducted on a cash basis. A barrister receives his fee when the brief which is to guide him in the trial of the case is handed to him. It was said of an able lawyer who practiced at the New York bar fifty years ago that he was always seized with a violent lit of coughing while a client was stating his case. If, however, the client dropped the retaining fee into the counsel’s fidgety left hand the spasm instantly subsided. Lawyers sometimes resort to strange devices in order to avoid taking cases where tlio compensation offered is not as great as they think it should be. A San Francisco lawyer once found himself in a mining town, where bis dissipation left him without money to pay his bills or to get away. One morning a man came to the landlord of the hotel where the lawyer was a guest, and said he needed a first-rate lawyer. The host said that a celebrated San Francisco lawyer was staying there, and showed the prospective client up stairs to his room. The lawyer was still in bed, but he listened with pleasure to the man’s story, thinking that a fat retainer would set him again on his feet. The case was this: Ane ghbor had a pet ratt esnake which had escaped from its cage and bitten the complainant’s horse. 'J he horse died in consequence of the bite. The owner wanted to prosecute for damages, and desired to employ a first class lawyer to bring i tit. “How much, sir, was the horse worth?” asked the lawyer, wishing to name a fee which should be in xiroportion to tlie amount claimed. . “Five dollars,” replied the man. “I am very sorry that I can’t serve you,” said the lawyer; “I am retained for the snake,” and he turned over in the bed, a disgusted man. Youth’s Companion. Every action, every thought, every feeling, contributes to the education of the temper, the habits, and understanding, and exercises an inevitable influence upon all the acts of our future life.