[Illustration:  Reproductions of mural decorations from the library of congress, Washington

"LAW"

Photo-engraving in colors after the original mosaic panel by Frederick Dielman

The mosaics by Mr. Dielman are remarkable for their wealth of color and detail—­properties so elusive as to defy the reproducer’s art.  But the picture here given preserves the fundamental idea of the artist.  “Law” is typified by the central figure of a woman seated on a marble throne and holding in one hand the sword of punishment, and in the other the palm branch of reward.  She wears on her breast the AEgis of Minerva.  On the steps of the throne are the scales of Justice, the book of Law and the white doves of Mercy.  On her right are the emblematic figures of Truth, Peace, and Industry, on her left are Fraud, Discord, and Violence.  “Law” is a companion piece to “History.”]

“The Lawyer in Politics.”  It is sometimes a question which way the lawyer will start when he enters politics.  I remember reading once of a distinguished lawyer who had a witness upon the stand.  He was endeavoring to locate the surroundings of a building in which an accident occurred, and he had put a female witness on the stand.  “Now the location of the door:  please give it,” and she gave it in a timid way.  “Will you now kindly give the location of the hall in which the accident occurred?” She gave it.  “Now,” he says, “we have arrived at the stairs; will you kindly tell me which way the stairs run?” She became a little nervous and she says, “I will tell you the best I can; if you are at the foot of the stairs they run up, and if you are to the top of the stairs they run down.” [Laughter.] So sometimes it is pretty important to find out which way the lawyer is going when he enters in politics.  He should be tried and tested before being permitted to enter politics, in my judgment, and while the State is taking upon itself the paternal control of all our professions and business industries, it seems to me they should have a civil service examination for the lawyer before he enters the realm of politics.

A lawyer that I heard of, coming from a county down the river—­a county that has produced distinguished judges who have occupied positions on the Court of Appeals and in the Supreme Court of the State—­said of a lawyer there who had been in politics, that he had started with bright prospects, but had become indebted to the Bar during his period in politics.  He had gone back and had taken up the small cases, and yet in his sober moments it was said the sparks of genius still exhibited themselves at times.  He was called upon to defend a poor woman at one time who was arrested by a heartless corporation for stealing a lot of their coal.  He sobered up and squared himself before the jury, conducted the examination of the case and the trial of it, and in a magnificent