Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1860-07-20
The som Answer.
ny T. $. ARTHUR

ny T. $. ARTHUR
"flI give him law to his hearts content
the scoundrelr' said Mr.. Singleton, walkini
backward and forward, in state of angry ex
element
fpon't call harsh nantes, Mr. Singleton,
said Lawyer Trueman, looking up from tn,
mass Of papers before him, and smiling, in
quiet benevolent way, that was peculiar t
him. a ssaaf vrgg G IWHFE-a
'"Every man should be known BY his tru,
name. Williams is scoundrel, and so ht
ought to be called" responded the client witt
increased warmth FAyI1M H I'll
9'Did you ever do a reasonable thing in yonr
life, when you were angry2' asked Mr. True
man, whose age and respectability gave the
license to speak thus freely to his young
friend, for whom he was endeavoring to ar
range some business difficulty with a former
partner.
81 can't say that / ever did, Mr.. Trueman
But now, have good reason for being angry
and in the language | use in reference tc
Williams is but the expression of sober and
rational conyi, ton, replied Singleton, little
more calmly NJ
"Did you pronounce him n scoundrel before
you received his reply to your last letter.
asked Mr.. Trueman.
"No did not, But the letter confirmed
my previously formed impression of his char
acter."
"But / cannot find in that letter any evi-
dence proving your late partner TO be a dis
honest man. He will not agree to your pro
posed mode Of settlement, because he does
not see it to be the most proper way"
"lle won't agree to it, because it is an hon
est and equitable method of settlement, that
is ALL He wants to overreach me, and is de-
termined TO do so if he can, responded Mr..
Singleton, still excited
"rhere You are decidedly wrong" said the
lawyer. "Yon have both allowed yourselves
to become angry, and are both unreasonable,
and if Unjust speak plainly | think you the
most unreasonable in the present case. Two
angry men can never settle any business prep
erly You have very unnecessarily increased
the difficulties in the way of speedy settle.
meht, by writing Mr. Williams an angry letter,
which he has responded to in like unhappy
temper. Nowfif | am to settle this business
for you, ! must write all letters that pass TO
Mr.. Williams in future"
"But how can you properly express my
views and feelings p
THAT | do not wish 10 do, if your views
and feelings are TO remain as they now are /;
for any thing like an adjustment of the diff
culties under such circumstances should CON
slider hopeless. replied Mr. Trpemau
''We1, let me answer this letter, and after
that, ! promise. that you shall have your own
way
No, ! shall consent to no such thing. 1t
is the reply TO that letter which is to modify
the negotiation for settlement in such way
as to bring success or failure and have no
idea Of allowing you in the present state of
your mind 10 write such one as will most
assuredly defeat on amicable arrangement"
Singleton paused for some time, before
making u reply lie had been forming in his
mind most cutting and bitter rejoinder to the
letter just alluded To-, and he was very desir-
Gus that Ms Williams should have the benefit
Of knowing that he thought him a "trcky
and deliberate scoundrel, with other opin-
ions of a similar character. He found it,
therefore, impossible TO make up his mind to
let the unmpassioned Mr., Trueman write this
most important epist.e.
Indeed, | must write this letter, Mr.. True
man, he said 'There are some things that
want TO say to him, that know you won twrite
You don't seem to consider the position in
which he has placed me by that letter, nor
what is obligatory upon me as man of hon
ar. never allow any man 10 reflect upon me,
directly or indirectly without prompt re-
sponse,'
"There is, in the Bible, said Mr. Truemnn,
"a passage thai is peculiarly applcabe in the
present case. II is this: "A soA answer turn
eth away wrath; but grievous words stirreth
up anger | have found this precept, in a
life that has numbered more than double your
years. 20 be one that may be safely and honor.
able adopted in all cnses You may blame
Mr.. Williams for writing you an angry letter,
and are indignant at certain expressions CON
tained therein Nov, is Il any more right for
you 10 write an angry letter, with cutting epi-
thets, thaDit is for tbemY'
Bnt Mr. Tneman--'
II do assure you, my young friend said
the lawyer mterrupting him, "that am act
ing in this case for your benefit and not for
my own and as your legal advertiser, you
must submit to my Judgment orI cannot con.
sent TO 60 on
"lfl will promise not 10 use any harsh Ian
guage, will you consent 10 let me write this
letterG urged the client
ANou and in the present state of mind,
could not possibly come 10 the sumo cohcu-
sion in reference to what is harsh and what is