New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-11-20
TRUTH rs DANGEROUS.
It is Often Embarrassing When Expressed
by the Tactless.

v E I
Prevalence of Blunderers Due to Extreme
Consclentiousness as Exemplifed in the
Enfant Terrible Tactless People Create So
clal chickering's Ridiculous Blunders.
sit is surprising, or would be if it
we're not already d matter of frequent
notice, how many tactless individuals
infest this world OF ours" said the pro-
lessor, as with infinite tact he had
managed to entice me into corner by
the fireplace, from which escape was
possible only by force of arms.
lit is lack of tact that makes men
failures, financially, ministerially, ju-
dicially, presidentially, and all other
'allys.' Give me man who always
says and does the right thing in the
right place, and I'll show conqueror
OF men like Napoleon Or =
"a tactless comparison !; Napoleon
1 had his Waterloo
, swell, that is only an example of
how inapt the best of US are at some
time in our lives. The individual who,
as the lrishman said, never opens his
mouth without putting his foot in it,
Jostles us at every corner, waylays us
on every highway and quite too often
stretches his feet under our own table.
Now,I'v been looking into this subjecta
little, and I've come to the conclusion
that lack of tact is due to extreme con-
scientiousness. In the days, now lucki-
jy long passed when it was thought
angelic for young girls to be delicate,
and men were properly supposed to
believe that the dear creatures were
fed on the dews of heaven orsomething
equally ethereal, what CONSERVATION it
usedtto cause when Adolphus Primrose
was 'complimenting Lily Sylphide upon
her exceedingly small appetite for the
substantial dinner before them, to be
informed by the ubiquitous small
brother, She hadn't ought to be hun
cry, for she ct whole cold goose for
dinner!' The small brother believed
in the truth; he was opp osed to pleas
ant ltictions. These are the people
whose love of facts, exactness as to de-
tail and dislike of appearances cause
the endless heart burnings, chickering's
and strifes of society. They are
no doubt entirely innocent-in
fact, mean to exhibita more than ordi-
nary friendship-when they inform
Mrs. Millionaire that they remember
the time when she took in washing for
aliving! Now, there is really no malice
in that statement; it is evident truth,
and if Mrs. Millionaire had not inbibed
false ideas with the acquisition of
wealth she would accept it as a pleas
ant "reminiscences Of early days and
striking example of the ups and downs
of American society. Instead she so
decidedly snubs our innocent friends
that they soon call her stuck up l
recall the anecdote of an English lord
much given to self-appreciation, who
condescendingly inquired Of his waiter
at the club: William, if | should die
would you attend my funeral? Will
ingly, sir. replied the waiter without
a moments hesitation. Surely you
didn't mean it just that way?' exclaim-
ed my lord, in evident annoyance at the
unlocked for contretemps Indeed
no, sir! mean I wouldn't be seen
theren " ...
you have doubtless read the old
anecdOte of the penurious baronet of
England who refused to provide for his
widowed sister, but who in revenge
caused q sign to be put up near his
domain bearing the inscription: The
Sister of Sir George Rase Takes in
Washing Here"
mot SO tactless, that
lon the sisters part, no; on the
brothers, yes. One must learn to
prepare for attack and parry blows I'M
less he wants to be put down among
the blunderers. The fellow whose
ideas are ten minutes too late will al
ways find himself overmatched by the
! individual with the one idea, who
drives it straight ahead and never
A;allows the question of fitness to disturb
him. The faculty for turning a neat
compliment is largely acquired, but
the genius for laundering is as innate
as the breath we4draw.''
(which accounts for its superabund-
anee"
mo doubt. Nature preponderates
art everywhere; and even the natural
fool is with us as ten to one of the
learned sage. Education doesn't seem
to do much for the tactless mortal
either; for the reason that, as rule,
he'eannot see his failures. He is so
conscious of having the right purpose,
of being actuated by the 'bsst motives,
thatihe can sit squarely down upon q