162
��HERBERT F. NORRIS.
��of 1874 at Canaan, he established him- self in the office for the completion of his legal course. While pursuing his studies here, he was engaged to some extent in newspaper work, and became the regular New Hampshire corre- spondent of the Boston Post. He also served for two years as clerk of the Concord police court, and taught for two terms in the Concord schools. He was admitted to the bar at the October term for 1876, at Concord, and imme- diately commenced practice in the of- fice where he had pursued his studies, as a partner of W. T. Norris, Esq., of Danbury, who had previously become a member of the firm, in place of Mr. Albin, the firm, of Page & Norris then being dissolved. The firm of W. T. and H. F. Norris continues, and en- joys a liberal share of patronage, espe- cially in criminal practice. The firm were engaged in the defence of the no- torious La Page, and also of Johnson, the Bristol wife murderer.
Mr. Norris comes of Democratic stock, and has from boyhood been strongly attached to the principles of the Democratic party, for whose success he has earnestly labored. He has been a delegate to the Democratic state con- vention from his native town, where he has always maintained his voting resi- dence, nearly every year since attain- ing his majority, and has taken an active part in the deliberations of that body. He was also for two years pre- vious to October last, secretary of the Democratic state committee, and did efficient work in the conduct of politi- cal campaigns. »
In 1877, Mr. Norris was chosen a member of the legislature from Epping, and during the session of that year took an active and prominent part not only in the debates upon the floor, but in the work of the Judiciary Commit- tee, of which he was a member. Re- elected to the house in 1878, he was hon- ored by the Democratic members with a unanimous nomination for the speaker- ship, a position which he was eminently qualified to fill had the strength of his party been adequate to his election. During the protracted session of last
��summer, which tested severely the ca- pacity of various members on each side of the house for leadership, debate and general legislative work, he won a high reputation in all these capacities. With large mental resources and per- fect self-control, never taken by surprise by any device of his opponents, he proved himself equal to all emergen- cies, gaining in the various contests which occurred, the fullest confidence of his own party as an able and fearless leader, and of the opposition as an honorable though uncompromising foe. He was the youngest member of the Judiciary Committee in the house, and the youngest man who has served upon that committee for many years. As a ready debater he had few equals, and no superiors in the house. His man- ner as a speaker is easy and pleasing. He states his positions plainly and for- cibly, and draws his conclusions in a clear and logical manner.
The Manchester Mirror, in reviewing the history and personnel of the last legislature, alluded to Mr. Norris in the following terms : " No Democrat in the house has grown so much in popular estimation this session as he, and he is altogether the worst customer the majority have to deal with. He has improved much as a parliamentarian and a speaker, and there are not many men on either side who can match him in either capacity. His strongest point is his ability to use all his powers at a moment's notice, and to adapt him- self to the demands of the occasion." The Independent Statesman also paid him the following handsome com- pliment : "Herbert F. Norris, 'the Young War Eagle from Epping,' and the parliamentary leader of the minori- ty did full justice to the confidence re- posed in him by his party associates. Alert and ready, he gave the majority a good deal of trouble and the Speaker no end of perplexity. * * * Cool of manner, moderate of speech and persistent in purpose, he could not be easily disconcerted or put down."
Mr. Norris is the youngest man who has received a nomination for congress from either party in this state, since the
�� �
