ound it. But I try to fight
the act, not the man. And if I find the evil doer beyond hope of
correction, I do not antagonize the doer of it. More can be done by
amity and forbearance than by embittering and alienating. Man is not
bettered by being told that he is bad. I had an alderman in here three
or four days ago who was up to mischief. I could have called him a
scoundrel, without telling him untruth. But I didn't. I told him what I
thought was right, in a friendly way, and succeeded in straightening him
out, so that he dropped his intention, yet went away my friend. If I had
quarrelled with him, we should have parted company, he would have done
the wrong, I should have fought him when election time came--and
defeated him. But he, and probably fifty of his adherents in the ward
would have become my bitter enemies, and opposed everything I tried in
the future. If I quarrelled with enough such men, I should in time
entirely lose my influence in the ward, or have it generally lessened.
But by dealing as a friend with him, I actually prevented his doing what
he intended, and we shall continue to work together. Of course a man can
be so bad that this course is impossible, but they are as few in
politics as they are elsewhere."

"Taciturnity Stirling in his great circus feat of riding a whole ward at
once," said Watts.

"I don't claim that I'm right," said Peter. "I once thought very
differently. I started out very hotly as a reformer when I began life.
But I have learned that humanity is not reformed with a club, and that
if most people gave the energy they spend in reforming the world, or
their friends, to reforming themselves, there would be no need of
reformers."

"The old English saying that 'people who can't mind their own business
invariably mind some one's else,' seems applicable," said Watts.

"But is it not very humiliating to you to have to be friends with such
men?" said Mrs. D'Alloi.

"You know Mr. Drewitt?" asked Peter.

"Yes," said all but madame.

"Do you take pleasure in knowing him?"

"Of course," said Watts. "He's very amusing and a regular parlor pet."

"That is the reason I took him. For ten years that man was notoriously
one of the worst influences in New York State politics. At Albany, in
the interest of a great corporation, he was responsible for every job
and bit of lobbying done in its behalf. I don't mean to say that he
really bribed men himself, for he had lieutenants for the actual d