tice Charles P. Daly, before whom, during his judicial career, beginning in 1846, and not ending until the stupid and illogical age limit removed him in 1885, George Wood many times argued) "early came from the clearness of thought and lucidity of his language even in compressed statements." Therein he even equalled Marshall and Webster according to the traditions. Sub stantially, always, whenever Wood had fin ished his preliminary statement of a case he had already impliedly argued it fully. When he exchanged his law office in New Jersey for another in New York City he formed a connection with young Attorney Lewis B. Woodruff, who, in time, learned to model his own professional ways upon those of his senior partner; which became very evident when Woodruff afterwards succes sively became puisne judge of the New York Common Pleas and Superior Court, and finally Federal circuit judge. Nowadays at the New York bar fledg ling attorneys rush conceitedly into baneo and argue their own appeals, even in legal regions into which experienced lawyers fear to tread : but at the era of Wood's practice the average attorney sent his briefs to some senior whose very personality and prestige added weight to his weakest point before the Appellate or Chancery Court. Wood's practice always mainly depended upon out side briefs : and not so much upon cases originating with his personal clients. He believed in division of labor and left the primary verifying of cases cited against him, or the search for decisions illustrating his own points, to the industry of the interested attorneys. His mind was so clear that he could simultaneously carry in his brain the gist of many contemporaneous arguments entrusted to him. Mental confusion he never knew, not even its suburbs. Time and again would he go from court room to court room, versatilely arguing on the same day cases of diverse considerations and op posite legal principles. His brain was a
very kaleidoscope, which at every new turn showed different combinations, yet each one harmonious as to color. His legal novitiate in New Jersey had been with Richard Stockton, son of the signer of the Declaration of Indepen dence, whose legal fame was summarized in the recent GREEN Bag sketch of his legal grandson, the former attorney general of George Wood's native State. This pre ceptor, referring to his pupil's after-career, when the two crossed rhetoric swords in one case, pro and eon, often humorously quoted, as applicable to himself the old quatrain — "To teach his grandson draughts His leisure he'd employ : Until at last the old man Was beaten by the boy. Nor was Stockton the master ever at all jealous of his pupil, but seemed by his manner and speech to take pride in him. Those familiar with Stockton detected in Wood's legal beginnings much ensampling of the former's ways. Stockton was a cool and never perturbed lawyer, but kept his temper and alertness for the "passing show" in court rooms as steadily as a pilot keeps his ship on its proper course; so Wood was never off his guard nor lacking in resources. Often when a judge would in terrupt his argument with questions that might well embarrass or break continuity of thought and speech, Wood would put on his smile of equanimity and say, "Yes, your honor, I expect to come to that point pres ently"; meanwhile in duality of brain, Wood would be cogitating over the new point and preparing an answer. Whether from caution or overprudence he was never an ad eaptandnm lawyer nor a yielder to inconsiderate impulse. Perhaps often he carried such a disposition too far, since alertness for the sudden occasion is often a serviceable quality for the lawyer, and es pecially at nisi prius. But George Wood's forte was not before a jury, and when he
