Chapter 27 Chapter Twenty-Five I Still Can't Do It

It is not difficult to obtain the qualification of a lawyer in the UK, but it is not easy to practice business.I have studied the law books, but I have not learned how to execute them.I have read "Xi Lv Yi Zhu" by heart, but do not know how to apply it to my business. "Use one's property so that no one may be harmed" is one of the maxims, but I really don't see how it should be applied to the benefit of litigants.I've read all the important cases in this book, but it doesn't give me much confidence in how to apply them in business. Moreover, I have never studied Indian law at all.I don't understand the laws of Hindus and Muslims at all.I hadn't even learned how to write an indictment, and I felt helpless.I had heard the story of Sir Phirozesha Mehta doing the lion's roar in court, and I wondered how he learned it in England.I don't expect to have his legal acuity, but it does bother me deeply whether I can make a living from this profession.When I was studying law, I was already full of these doubts and anxiety.I told several friends about these difficulties, and one of them persuaded me to consult Dadabai Oroji.I have already said that when I went to England, I had a letter of introduction to Dadabai with me.But I belatedly handed over this letter, because I finally felt that I had no right to trouble such a great man.Every time I heard that he was going to give a speech, I rushed to attend, sat in a corner of the hall and listened, and went home when my eyes and ears were satisfied.In order to have close contact with students, he once established a society.I often attend its rallies, and seeing Dadabai's care for the students and the students' respect for him makes me really happy.After some time, I finally worked up the courage to hand him the letter of introduction.He said, "You can come and talk to me anytime." But I never went to him.I thought he should not be troubled except by the most urgent need.So at that time I did not dare to accept that friend's advice and bring up my difficulties to Dadabai.I do not remember now whether it was also this friend who introduced me to Mr. Friedrich Bincarter.He is a conservative party member, but his concern for Indian students is pure and impartial.Many students went to ask him to save him, and I also asked him to make an appointment for me to visit him, and he agreed.This meeting is something I will never forget.He treated me like a friend and dispelled my pessimism with laughter.He said to me: "Do you think everyone should be Ferozesha Mehta? People like Ferozesha and Badruddin are always in the minority. It doesn't take a lot of skill to be an ordinary lawyer. Ordinary loyalty Diligence is enough for him to live on. The cases are not all difficult. Well, please tell me what you have read."

When I told him the few books I had read, I could see that he was a little disappointed.But this is only for a moment.Soon that lovely smile was shining on his face again.He said: "I understand your difficulties. You have limited reading, and you don't know the world, which is an indispensable knowledge for a lawyer. You haven't even read the history of India. As a lawyer, you should understand human relations, Should have the ability to tell a man's character from his appearance. Every Indian should know the history of India. It has nothing to do with the business of a lawyer, but it is what you should know. I think you don't even I haven't read the history of the 1857 Mutiny by Kay and Marson. You should read this book right away, and I think you should read one or two books on the ways of the world." This is Lavator and Shenmei Several works on physiognomy by Erpinik et al.

I am extremely grateful for this esteemed friend.In his presence all my fears vanished, but as soon as I was away from him my uneasiness returned. "You can tell a person's character from his appearance" became a problem for me, and I kept thinking about the above two books on the way home.I bought Lavalto's book the next day, as Shenmelpinnick's book was no longer available.I read Lavalto's book and found it more difficult to understand than Snell's The Law of Balance, and it was uninteresting.I have studied Shakespeare's face, but I have not acquired the skill to discover Shakespeare and his like walking in and out of the streets of London.

Lavalto's book did not add much to my knowledge.Mr. Bincarter's advice was of little immediate use to me, but his fellowship cheered me up.His cheerful smile is etched in my memory and I believe what he said, that Ferozesha Mehta's acuity, memory and talent are not necessary to be an accomplished lawyer; loyalty and hard work are enough .And I asked myself that in terms of the last two aspects, it was still passable, and I felt somewhat comforted. It was no longer possible for me to read Kaye and Mallson in England, but I finally did in South Africa because I was determined to read them as soon as I got the chance.

In this way, I landed in Bombay on the ship "Assam" with a feeling of hope mixed with a little helplessness. The wind and waves in the port were very strong, and I had to take a small boat to dock.