The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-14
THE Ho M G.


Tact is one of the familiar things most
difficult to define. 1t is a grit or grace that
may be unnoticed in its presence, but is
always conspicuous by its absence. 1t has
been described as the antithesis of elumsi-
ness, Just as wit is the antithesis of dulness,
SO that mind without tact may be compared
to body without grace. Who does not
know clever good-hearted people, whose fin
gers are all thumbs, and whose frames are
all elbows and knees-people who, with the
best intentions in the world. are sure to up
set teacups, stumble against chairs, or knock
the baby over? But their maleyolent infu-
ence is not to be mentioned in the same
breath with the evil that is wrought by
want. not only of thought, but by want of
sympathy, perception, imagination, sensi-
bility, intuition. A delicate spice of each
Of these is necessary in that staple house
hold necessity, tact.
Tact stOops to conquer, and it usually gets
what it stoops after. 1t uses soitly-rounded,
not to say roundabout speech, and is never
guilty of such ugly, stubby statements as
"you shall moi" Tact never drives, nor
always leads. 1t was never known to stum-
bic against peoples preJudices, or blunder
against their idiosynorasies. or mutilate
their petty foibles, or say the things that are
better left unsa.d.
To know exactly how another feels re-
Quires sympathy or intuition, to wish TO make
that feeling pleasureable one needs benev0-
lence, but to know how TO make pleasurable,
to make it so, and to do it instantly-these
are the offices of consummate tact. No heart
is so light that 1t may not be made lighter
still; and as tact is incapable Of giving pain
in the slightest degree, it may be considered
the worldly Interpretation of the golden rule.
And active and noble philanthropist may
tell us wholesome truths, but he is not con-
siderate of wounded vanity or tender OF
sensitive feelings. The person of tact is
pnilanthr0pist in miniature. he does not
care to reform nations, but as much as pos
sible he removes Earring and friction from
the lives of those about him.
lnsincerity Is the accusation most fire.
Quently brought against tact, and it is true
that dizziness and adroitness may lead to
craftiness and cunning; but this is one OF
the good things that should be used, not
abused. There Is no real enmity between
sincerity and tact; indeed the first is shorn
of half its power when it disdains the use of
the other. However 1t be, it Is true that
human nature will break violently away
from a rough grasp, when it will probably
yield to considerable and persuasive touch.
STRANGE OCCUPATIONS FOR WOMEN.
At Martha's Vineyard dumb woman
owns and manages schooner and earns a
living as fisherman. Between times she
peddles threads and buttons along the coast
At Cincinnati there is also boat woman
who earns her living on the water. In
Maine many women are farmers, working
from 200 to 800 acres, and, Of course finding
time to read the magazines. AT Louisville a
Mrs. Shelby Is sexton OF st. Johns cemetery
At Gardiner, Me-, Mrs. Preble Is a marble
and granite cutter employing ten or twelve
men. In New York city Mrs Gill Is shoe
maker. The best of her work Is cobbling.
Also in New York Mrs. Emma Yewdell gets
along fairly well keeping a livery stable.
San Francisco and Brooklyn have each
woman blacksmith. Mrs. Lena Seigfried, Of
New Orleans, Is a bird hunter, living on her
fathers schooner, and able to kill, clean and
prepare more birds to the hour than any
male hunter along the coast. In New Or
leans more than any other city we have
women engaged in occupations unusual to
the sex. Here are to be found women edi.
tors, merchants, florists, dairy farmers aud
manufacturers in great numbers, all earning
good sums Of money.