Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-12-06
TACT AND TALENT.

Talent is something but tact is everything.
Talent is serious sober, grave, and respectl-
BILE; tact is all that and more too. 1t is not
seventh sense, but is the life of all the five. 1t
is the open eye the quick ear the Judging
taste, the keen smell, and the lively touch it
is the interpreter of all riddles-the surmount-
er Of all dithculties-the remover of all Obsta-
cles 1t is useful in all places, and at all times;
it is useful in solitude, for it shows a man his
way into the world; it is useful in society, for
1t shows him his way through the world. Tai
ent is power-tact is skill talent is weight
tact is momentum talent knows what to do
tact knows how to do it; talent makes a man
respectable-tact will make him respected
talent is wealth-tact is ready money. For all
the practical purposes Of life, tact carries it
against talent-ten to one. Take them to the
theater and put them against each other on
the stage, and talent shall produce you TRACE
dy that will scarcely live long enough to be
damned, while tact keeps the house in a roar,
night after night, with its successful farces.
There is no want Of dramatic talent there is
no want Of dramatic tact, but they are seldom
together; so we have successful pieces which
are not respectable, and respectable pieces
which are not successful. Take them to the
bar and let them shake their learned curls at
each other in legal rivalry talent sees its way
clearly, but tact is first at its journeys end.
manly Tie DGlCl,
but tact touches fees from attorneys and clients.
Talent speaks learnedly and. logically-tact,
triumphantly. Talent makes the world won
der that it gets on no taster-tact excites as
constituent that its gets on so fast; and the Sc
cret is, that it has no weight to carry it makes
no false steps-it hits the right nail on the
head-it loses no time-it takes no hints-and
by keeping its eye on the weather-cock, is
ready to take advantage of every wind that
blows. Take them in the church. Talent has
always something worth hearing, tact is sure
Of abundance Of hearers. Talent may obtain
Il living, tact will make one. Talent gets a
good name, tact great one. Talent conyinces,
tact converts. Talent is an honor to the pro-
fessiOn, tact gains honor from the profession.
Take them to court. Talent feels its weight
tact finds its way. Talent commands tact is
obeyed. Talent is honored with appreciation,
and tact is blessed by preferment. Place them
in the Senate. Talenthas the ear of the house,
but tact wins its heart and has its votes Tai
ent is fit for employment, but tact is fitted for
it. 1t has a knack of slipping into places with
a sweet silence and gibness of movement as
a blard-ball insinuates itself into the pocket.
1t seems to know everything without learning
anything. 1t has served an invisible and eX
temporary apprenticeship. 1t wants no drill
ing. 1t never ranks in the awkward squad.
1t has no left hand, no deaf ear, no blind side.
1t puts on no look of wondrOus wisdom, it has
no air of protundity; but plays with the de-
tails of place as deXterously as a well-taught
hand flourishes over the keys Of pianoforte.
1t has all the air of commonplace, and all the
force and power of genius. 1t can change
sides with heypresto movement and be atal
points of the compass, while talent is ponder
ously and learnedly sitting a single point.
Talent calculates clearly, reasons logically,
makes out case as daylight and utters its
oraces with all the weight Of justice and rea-
son.
Tact refutes without cOntradicting, puzzles
the profound with profundity, and without wit
outwits the wise Set them together on a race
for popularity, pen in hand, and tact will dis
lance talent by half the course. Talent brings
to market that which is wanted tact produces
that which is wished for. Talent instructs
tact enlightens. Talent leads where no one
follows; tact follows where the humor leads.
Talent is pleased that it ought to have succeed
ed tact is delighted that it has succeeded.
Talent tolls for a posterity which will never
repay it; tact throws away no pains, but catch
es the passion of the passing hour. Talent
builds for eternity; tact on a short lease, and
gets good interest. Talent is certainly very
fine thing to talk about, very good thing to
be proud of, a very glorious eminence to look
down from but tact is useful, portable, appli-
cable, always alive, always alert, always mar
ketable it is the talent of talents, the availa-
beness of resources, the applicability of power,
the eye of discrimination, the right hand of
intellect