64
��Matthew Harvey.
��chair. Masculine cliildish discrimi- nation had noted the difference, and appropriated the result of discern- ment. Preemptive instinct had de- feated communistic determination. Such has been, is now, and will be the world's experience. Other things equal, instinct confronts, encounters, and vanquishes reflection, world with- out end.
Diplomacy is only another name for shrewdness. Shrewdness is operative intelligence. Intelligence, in opera- tion, is indispensable to society. A man is not a subject for condemna- tion simply for being diplomatic. Goodness itself leans upon intelli- gence for guidance. We must be as keen in judgment as we are pure in intention, if we are to realize the best results of living. In a wav, Matthew Harvey was " as wise as a serpent," though in another he was " as harm- less as a dove." He could defeat the machinations of an individual without directly opposing him. Let us relate an incident. It is taken from the more familiar circle of his personal experiences.
One of Matthew Harvey's neighbors was a man of extreme impecuniosity. He was thriftless and irresponsible. Such men, by the force of want, often have their selfish wits sharpened to the degree of moral recklessness. This impecunious neighbor once called upon Matthew Harvey for a loan of five dollars. He fortified solicitation with a gratuitous promise to pay on a certain early day. Such a circum- stance suggested hesitation on the part of the one solicited. That a man of utter pecuniary irresponsibili- ty could have suddenly arrived at that perfection of business economy that
��would enable him certainly to pay five dollars at a near and specified time, was incredible to Matthew Hai'vey. There was a suspicious phase of the request. Still Matthew Harvey did not reveal his suspicion. Neither did he directly refuse the applicant, as many others would have done. Re- tiring into privacy a moment, lie marked a five dollar bill in a manner securing its future identification. lie then returned and loaned it. True to his word, in a few days the borrower called and paid his debt. The lender privatel}' observed that it was the original five dollar bill. Not a word of accusation or extenuation passed. In a short time the impecunious indi- vidual appeared again, soliciting this time a loan of ten dollars. "Mr.
," said Matthew Harvey, "you
and I are square now, and I think we had better remain so. You disap- pointed me once, and I don't wish you to do so again."
We have already mentioned the dis- tinctiveness of social classes in the former time in Hopkiuton. The prev- alence of a kind of aristocratic class engendered within its ranks a corre- sponding etiquette. An acknowledged social formulary in the upper class implied the superior dignity and priv- ilege of age, and corresponding infe- rior attitudes and powers of youth. Young people were not expected to assume the prominence and forward- ness that they sometimes now do. In the instance of such assumption, re- buke would most likely be incurred. After Matthew Harvey had risen'^) the dignity and authority of a mem- ber of the congress of the United States, being one time at home, he called upon a Federalist neighbor, a
�� �
