This remark seemed rather striking in a way, because of the fact that
Mr. Choate’s parents were not poor in the accepted sense. The family is
rather distinguished in New England annals. His father was a cousin of
the famous Rufus Choate, and the latter, at the date of Joseph’s birth,
January 24, 1832, was just entering his second term in congress to
distinguish himself by a great speech on the tariff. Mr. Choate was the
youngest of four brothers, and, after receiving a fair school education
in Salem, was sent to Harvard, where he was graduated in 1852, and
later from its law school in 1854. Influence procured him a position in
a Boston law office. After a year of practical study, he was admitted
to the bar of Massachusetts. In October of that year he made a tour of
observation in the western states, in company with his brother William,
and on his return determined to settle in New York.
“Isn’t it possible, Mr. Choate,” I ventured, “that your having had
little or no worry over poverty in your youth might cause you to
underestimate the effect of it on another, and overestimate the
importance of sticking with determination to an idea through wealth or
deprivation?”
“No,” he replied, after a few moments’ delay, in which he picked up one
of the volumes near by as if to consult it; “no, the end to be attained
makes important the need of hanging on. I am sure it is quite often
more difficult to rise with money than without.”