Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

SrRINGFIELD, 1636-1SS6. 365
Springfield was uot such a terrible sufferer as in the Shays's re-
bellion times. Money was light, business unsettled, and auxiet}'
great. In 1816 the town ai)propriations were : Highways
and
bridges, $550; poor, $1,250; schools, $750; contingencies, etc.,
$1,819. The town had to borrow $1,000 to meet its floating debt.
We can linger a moment over the career of George Bliss, who, in
these struggles, had shown a devotion to self-government which his
father and John Worthington iu the previous generation had shown
for their tory principles. Mr. Bliss's knowledge of the law was most
profound, and the zeal Avith which he conducted the studies of young
men and engaged in examinations for their benefit might easily have
led to the establishment of a law school in Springfield, if there had
been a college to Avliich it could be attached. Indeed, he did prepare
a course of lectures, and had quite a law class started here. He was
considered a great oracle on all knotty questions. AVhen once a
young lawyer came to him for counsel he said, Avith mingled annoy-
ance and pride (for he fully understood the advantages and disad-
vantages of fame) :
'' That is just the Avay ! If a laAvyer has got a
complicated case that nobody can understand, then it is all ' Master
George !
'
!
' Master George ' But if it is a plain matter, then off he
goes to OliA'er, or George, or Willard." William G. Bates used to tell
a capital story as to Air. Bliss's penchant for severe technicalities.
Bliss had entered a successful plea in abatement over a slight inac-
curacy in terms, and the opposing lawyer, when subsequently reading
a writ, confounded the court Avith "• the Avords : For that the said defendant,
in the year of our Lord and SaA^iour, Jesus Christ —
" What is the occasion of that profanity?" asked the judge. " AYhy,
I thought that if I did not allege- what Lord it Avas, my cousin
George Avould plead in abatement !
"
The mastery of technicalities of the laAv, for Avhich Air. Bliss Avas
noted, caused him to look Avitli suspicion upon the tendenc}' of younger
laAvyers for suiipler modes of practice. AVhen special })leading was
being pushed aside, he said that he Avould not favor its rcA'iA'al ;
"
but he