The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-01-25
Tact ana TaIelnt.

Talent is something, but tact is eve
rything. Talent is serious, sober, grave
and respectable, tact is all that and
more too. 1t is not a seventh scene, but
it is the life of all five. It is the open
eve, the quick ear, the judging taste, the
keen smell and the lively. touch; it is
the Interpreter of all riddles, and ne
mover of all difficulties, the useful In
all places and at all times. It is useful
in solitude, for 1t shows a man his way
through the world. Talent is power,
tact is skill; talent is weight, tactis mo-
mentum; talent knows what to do, tact
knows how to do 1t; talent makes man
respectable, tact will make him re-
spected; talent is wealth, tact is ready
money. For all the practical purposes
of Life, tact carries it against ta1ent-ten
to one. Take them to the theatre and
put them against each other on the
stage, and talent will produce you
tragedy that will scarcely live long
enough to be condemed, while tact
keeps the house in roars, night alter
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 respectable, and re-
spectacle pieces which are not success
full. Take them to the bar, and let them
shake their learned curls at each other
in legal rivalry; talent sees its way
CLEARLY uuL LdCt ID hE9L .
end Talent has many a compliment
from the bench, but tact touches fees
from attorneys and clients. Talent
speaks learnedly and logically, tact tri-
umphantly. 4t-al .rze
Talent makes the world wonder that
it gets on no faster, tact excites aston
ishment that it gets on SO fast; and the
secret is, that it has no weight to carry;
Il makes no false steps; it hits the right
nail on the head; 1t loses no times 1t
takes all hints, and by keeping its eye
on the eweathercocks, is ready to take
advantage of every wind that blows.
Take them into the church. Talent has
ALWAYS something worth hearing-tact
is ALWAYS sure of abundance of hearers.
Talent may obtain a 1iving-tact will
make one. Talent gets a good name
tact a great one. Talent convinces-
tact converts. Talent is an honor to the
PROFESSIONALISM 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 with preferment. Place
them in the senate. Talent has the ear
of the house, but tact wins its heart,
and has its votes. Talent IS ttt tor em-
ployment, but tact is fitted for it: 1t has
a knack OF slipping into place with a
sweet silence and glibness of move
ment, as a billiard ball insinuates itself
into the pocket. It seems to know
everything without learning anything.
1t has served an invisible and extern
pory apprenticeship. 1t wants no drill
| ing. 1t never ranks in the awkward
squad. 1t has no left hand, no deaf ear.
no blind side. II puts on no looks OF
wondrous wisdom; it has no air of pro-
foundity; but plays with the details OF
place as well taught hand fourishes
over the keys of a pianoforte. II has all
the air of common place, and all the
force and power OF genius. ttst