Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-17
BeltgiOus department.
by INV. 9. NJ. sourueArn
TACT IN DOING GOOD.


Tact presupposes quick perception, deli
cate sympathy, facile accommodation to cir
cumstances. 1t is partly a native quality
and partly an acquired talent and grace. 1t
is peculiarly woman's power. II is proverb-
ial that in thousand exigencies woman's
wit will smooth path which the brain of a
male philosopher finds impossible. Comte
is SAID to have indicated his low estimate of
the intellect Of woman by identifying it with
what he called ia small instantaneous sagac.
ity." The disparagoment is without founda-
tion 10 truth but even this instantaneous
sagacity' is not anything to be despised.
The ready invention, the rapid execution of
a plan, even il it be with respect to no very
momeutous interest," is no insignificant item
in the means Of happiness.
Tact is an essential ingredient in what is
termed "knack." Wherever men are to be
dealt with, from the village school to the
legislative assembly, it is an invaluable sup
plement to other gifts of mind aud charac.
ter 1t is one Of the most valuable qnall-
ties of good physician. 1t enters into ev-
erything that can be classified under the
comprehensive term manipulation" Tact
in an orator presides over the marshaling of
his arguments, and guides him in selecting
the weapons best adapted to his purpose.
The advocate at the bar, be his talents and
legal eruditon what they may, is shorn Of
half of his power without it. Like a geuer-
al on the field Of battle, he must be govern
ed, no must be governed by the whole COM
bination of circumstances in the midst of
which he is to act his part aud to this end
he must be able to survey, to judge, and to
act as if by instinct.
There is a tact to be employed in doing
good. To do another a favor, especially a
pecuniary favor,--who does not know how
much depends here on the exercise of this
indeduable grace One man is sure to
wound your sensibility by his manner of
serving you; another man saves you from
all such annoyances, and, while loading you
with benefits, almost seems to be making
himself your debtor. To convey instruction,
in particular when the element OF rebuke en-
tiers into it, with no offensive assumption Of
superiority, and with n skill which probes
without inlicting needless pain, is rare
ability. There are bunglers in the art of
teaching and guiding the souls OF men, as
there are in mechanical pursuits. How Of
ten are prejudlces to be removed which are
invulnerablo to direct assault, but which
melt away, as snow under warm sun, be-
fore a more adroit method of approach.
Stubborn, capricious, opinionated, jealous
persons are to be won to a cooperation in
some charitable work. Misery people are
to be moved to part with their money, and
to give it to those who need it, For effect
ing such ends something besides knowledge
or benevolcnco is requisite. A nameless
tact, sort Of wisdom that battles descrip-
ton, for the reason that it is peculiar to tho
individual and varies endessy with circum-
stances, is alone eilicacous. Aud this will
often achieve results that seem little short Of
miraculous
The Apostle Paul was eminent for tact.
lie was courageous, independent, even i'm.
petuous yet he had not u particle Of that
ianaticism which despises prudence as world.
ly policy, and pushes forward, reckless Of
cxpedioncy. His ardor, however high il
might fame up, never consumed his perspi
easily. He could adapt himself with mar,
velous hexibility to times and persons =
|
He did not bring forward the same argu
ments to everybody, but selected such al
would serve his purpose with the individual
or the assembly which he happened to b
addressing. Capable, as his writings show
Of uttering sharp language Of denunciatioI
when there was call for it, he also under
stood how to gain the ear of opponents ant
of bad men by mild and polite phraseology
He does not feel obliged to tell the Roman
Procurator that he is miserable idolater
but courteously salutcs him as "most nobl,
Festus." lie propitates King Agrippa b,
a compliment respecting his acquaintanc
with Jewish affairs. When he stood o.
Mars Hill, in the midst of the monument
of paganism, he characterized his Atheniar
auditors as extremely devoted to religion
A more marked exhibition Of the apostle
tact was on the occasion of his arraignmen
before the Sanhedrim. Perceiving that hi
judges were partly Pharisees and partl
Sadducees, he managed to stir up strif
between the two rival parties on the doctrin
Of the resurrection, which he declared TO b
the ground of the accusation against him
aud in the dust of the conflict thus adroitl
kindled he made his escape. One is struc
with surprise to see SO large measure q
practical shrcwdness in union with such feI
vor and heroism.
There is class Of people whose want {
tact is aptly described in the homely sayinj
that "all OF their fingers are thumbs" The
may not be deficient in benevolence, for, i
in order to make up tact, certain refine
ment Of perception must be superadded
kindness. Yet it must bo remembered tina
Christian love tends to develop tact, sine
vigilance and sympathy are the natural Of
spring Of such a spirit.
The excess and abuse Of tact is cunning
OF the two, an obtuse bluntness is vastl
= preferable to undue management and Graf
= Better the roughness Of the bear than tn
, cunning and suppleaess Of the fox. "Siu
plcity and godly sincerity" are golden vi
: tues. They cannot breathe in the atmo
} phere Of shrewdness and calculation. n
blunders of good men, whose intentions III
: recognized as good, are often counteractC
p. in their effects, or in some way overruled 70
Q good. Sincerity is the jewel Of characte
in the room Of which nothing can be- game
Of equal value. The enthusiast who flina
Q away all judicious caution will achieve
D the end far greater results than the man
D mere policy, who undertakes moral force
4 aud relies on artiully devised machiner
} The wisdom Of the serpent aud the innocent
+ Of the dove are not commended to us apal
0 from each other but together Chr,Sti0
= Union.
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