The Dickinson press., 1883-08-25
Men of Tact.

O~ go
ed that lawyers in the higher walks of
their profession were distinguished as
peace-makers. To substantiate his asser-
ton, he said that he had settled more
cases in his Office, during the year, than
had been tried in the Supreme Court
of the state, within the same period.
That lawyer was noted for his tact.
His habit was to bring the disputants in
to a private conference over which he
presided as mutual friend. The result
usually was that both parties came to a
settlement, without going to law.
The late Thurlow Weed was also noted
for his tact in managing men. He never
debated with person whom he wished
to win. He would let him talk, argue,
and assert. Occasionally Mr.. Weed
would make suggestion or start an OBJ
lection but in such modest way as not
to alarm the PERSONS pride nor to put
him i'll hostile attitude. The confer
ence usually ended in the person adopt
ing Mr.. Weeds view Of the matter,
while thinking that he himself had been
the influential, instead of the influenced
party.
Strategy is tact applied to war. A gen.
eral who wins victory by battle when
he could haye conquered by strategy is
looked upon as butcher by his profess
sion, though the unthinking rabble may
shout for him as a hero.
While John Lawrence was commits
sioner of the Trans-Sutlej States in India,
news was brought him that three hun.
dred Sikhs, the best warriors of the
country, had manned the hill fortress Of
Kote- Kangra and raised the standard of
rebellion. Their leader had sent out
the defiant words that he would not sur
render the keys of the fort unless the
nLion of the Punjab," the Sikh's hero;
Runjeet Sing himself, returned from the
dead and demanded them of him.
The fort was small Gibraltar. It
stood on precipitous and isolated rock
four hundred feet high, which was con-
nected with the main range of hills by q
narrow ridge, twenty yards wide. This
neck was defended by strong walls. A
winding passage through seven gateways
gave the only access TO the fort.
The English, by extraordinary ex-
ertlons and skill, had brought heavy guns
to their camp at the foot of the hills on
which the fort was situated. The eve
ming after their arrival, a deputation of
three graybeards came out of the fort to
the English camp.
They had been persuaded by an in
fuential and friendly Sikhto come an d al
least hear what terms the English would
make for the surrender of the fort. For
several hours they remained and talked
over the matter. They were quiet, court
eous, but determined.
tlast, they rose to make their Balaam
of departure, when John Lawrence, will,
his usual tact, determined to see if a mo.
raj impression might not be made upon
them: He suggested that they should
remain over night and see the guns at
,day-break ascend the hill. They agreed,
but with gesture indicating that they
did not believe that even the English
would haul heavy guns up that steep
hill.
At four o'clock in the morning the in
credulous Silkhs were awakened by
loud cheering. They rushed from their
beds thinking the garrison had made q
sally. But what was their astonishment
when they saw two large elephants
slowly pulling, tandem fashion, a heavy
gun, while third pushed it from be-
They stood amazed, as gun after gun
was hauled and pushed up the narrow
pathway, and by the help of hundreds
of Sepoys, safely rounded past the sharp
corners which seemed to make further
progress impossible.
The Silk graybeards looked, but said
not word. When the last gun had
been put into position on the plateau
which commanded the fort, they took
their departure. In an hour the white
flag was raised by the garrison. Man
by man they defled out, threw down
their arms and left for their homes. A
bloodless victory was thus won by the
knew human nature.-Youth's Compan-
ion