nd express train of
principle to use.

I don't like that word policy. There is another and better name for
the trait I would present just here, and that is _tact_. It means the
doing of a right thing at the right time and in the right place. Some
young men win first honors in college and fail in the business of life
for want of tact. Here is where the Yankee excels. The Southerner is
genial, generous and has many traits of character to be admired, but
he must doff his hat to Yankee character for the development of tact.

Sam Jones, who rarely ever failed to get the best of whoever tried
repartee with him, met more than his match when he ran up against
Yankee tact. He was raising money to pay off the debt on a church.

A liberal member said: "Mr. Jones, I have given about all I can afford
to give, but if you will get one dollar from that old man on the end
of the back bench of the 'amen corner,' I'll give you ten dollars
more."

"Has he any money, and is he a member of the church?"

"Yes," was the answer to both questions.

The great evangelist said: "Well, that's easy," and started for the
dollar.

Approaching the old man he said: "Brother, I'm collecting money for
the Lord. You owe him a dollar. I'm told you are an honest man and
always pay your debts, so hand over that dollar."

"How old are you, sir?" asked the old man.

When Sam gave his age at about forty, the old brother said: "I'm
nearly double your age, sir, and will very likely see the Lord before
you do, so I'll just give him the dollar myself."

I lectured in New England a few years ago when before me sat a Yankee
with his two sons. He sat between them and when I made a point which
he approved, he would nudge the boys. He seemed to be driving my
advice in with his elbows. At the close of the lecture I took his hand
and said: "I see you have your boys with you."

He replied: "Yes, I always take the two boys with me when I attend a
lecture. I presume when a speaker has prepared himself he is going to
get about the best things out of his subject, and will put them in a
way to take hold and benefit young men. If I were going to get the
same information out of books I might have to spend a dollar or two,
when I only paid fifteen cents each for them to hear your lecture."

This trait of tact, however, is moving south, and even the colored
race is getting hold of it. An old negro who was born on the
plantation where he lived when set free, remained af