an angry acquaintance, "just why you call me a liar. Be frank, sir; for
frankness is a golden-trimmed virtue. Just as a friend, now, tell me why
you called me a liar."

"Called you a liar because you are a liar," the acquaintance replied.

"That's what I call frankness. Why, sir, if this rule were adopted over
half of the difficulties would be settled without trouble, and in our case
there would have been trouble but for our willingness to meet each other
half-way."


62. UNFORTUNATE MISTAKE

Judge ----, who is now a very able Judge of the Supreme Court of one of the
great States of this Union, when he first "came to the bar," was a very
blundering speaker. On one occasion, when he was trying a case of replevin,
involving the right of property to a lot of hogs, he addressed the jury as
follows:

"Gentlemen of the jury, there were just twenty-four hogs in that
drove--just twenty-four, gentlemen--_exactly twice as many as there are
in that jury-box_!" The effect can be imagined.


63. TAKEN AT HIS WORD

A pretentious person said to the leading man of a country village, "How
would a lecture by me on Mount Vesuvius suit the inhabitants of your
village?" "Very well, sir; very well, indeed," he answered; "a lecture by