The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-02-20

TO Most Women This Valuable
Possession u Unborn.
Anscdotes Of Men and Women Who In
Trying Situations Have ExsrciseA
Tact, Much 60 the Peace Of
Mind Of All Conoernsd.

To be able to say the right thing at
the right moment Is . great art, and
said only to be acquired by those who
have natural talent that way. When
aoareless tslker, who was eriticising a
young lady's father severely, paused
moment to say; II hope he IL NO rela-
ton Of yours, Miss By" quick -
thought she replied, with the utmost
nonchalanoe: ''Only connection Of
mothers by marriage"
Few could hope to show such clever
readiness Of speech in dilemma Of the
kind, says Chambers Journal. Yet In
more curious and amusing way this
was almost matched by cautious old
woman, who, when asked what she
thought Of one Of her neighbors Of the
name Of Jones, with knowing look re-
piled: "Why, don't like to say any
thing about my neighbors; but - to Mr..
Jones, sometimes think, and then
again I don't know; but, after all, I
rather guess he'll turn out to be good
deal such O sort of man as I take him to
bel"
In little episode of village life we
had lately another interesting instance
Of feminine tact. Upon the conclusion
Of q marriage in village church the
bridegroom signed his register with his
x mark. The pretty young bride did
the same; and then turning to young
lady who had known her as the best
scholar in the school, whispered to her,
while love and admiration shone in her
eyes: "He is dear fellow, miss, but he
can not write. He is going to learn from
me, and would not shame him for the
world"
But 1t is not always 80 apparent that
In the affairs Of life women are more
adroit, or show more disoernment or bet
ter perception than mon. Who has not
noticed how often mothers and nurses,
by continually uttering vague threats,
which their little charges soon learn are
never fulfilled, lose all lauthority-while
one word from paterfamilias acts like
magic in restoring order and obedience
amongst the young rebels? 1t is unde-
niable that concerning the love affairs
Of others women usually show much
more perspicacity than men, and know
how to act accordingly; yet often in
their own cases the tact evinced by
them In skillfully managing lover
would seem to be lost when that lover
becomes husband.
"Tact," we are told, 'often thwarts
strength" and certainly may be made a
wonderful instrument Of oonciliation
and pacification. To be able readily
and without generalization to do or soy
the wight thing is an enviable gift, one
that has not unfrequently brought sub
stantial rewards to Its possessor. To
ask favor gracefully, or to compose q
well-worded or delicately expressed mis-
sive in matters of diplomacy, would
probably tax the mental resources Of
most of US.
To many men the art of at least put
ting things in kind and compliment
ary way is not uncommon-an art thai
was we'll cultivated by the courtiers o.
days gone by. The painter who drew
the terrible one-eyed Tamerlane in the
attitude of a warrior taking aim with
his bow, and consequently having one
eye closed, is an illustration in point
Nor was tho Spanish nObleman who
: sent Queen Elizabeth a looking-glas,
when asked by her Majesty for the por
trait of the lady who possessed SO 40
pomplished o cavaliers heart whit be
hind Raleigh himself in readiness ant
delicacy Of tact
A gentleman was heard to remark q
q fashionable French gathering: "A
that time, Marchioness, was in love;
then suddenly interrupting himself
"But no doubt you are astonished tina
any one should fall in love before know
ing your This, we admit, was rathe
an instance Of excessive gallsntry tina
of readiness such as was displayed by an
other Frenchman in the following: A.
old nobleman was lately accosted by .
elderly lady with white hair ct part
given by Baroness: 'Don't you recoe
nize me, Monsieur d'Aurevilly?" Th
man was silent. "It Is many years,
she continued, "since we met; thin
in 1s4s." "Ah, madame" exclaimed tn
, nobleman, III have greatly change
\ \ since that time!" Could any one but
Frenchman have shaped such an al
swer?
1t must have been Q oountryman I
his who said: IF you wish to pay
!. pretty compliment to plain and Ign
:, rant woman, and at the same time do NJ
:, = wish to be guilty of . falsehood, tell h
u that she is as beautiful as she is accou
plished. She will think you are
charming man, and your conscience wi
= be guitless of an untruth." Such Q
adviser must be one of the very dipl
matists Of society.
In conversation, true courtesy is ofts
forgotten in the general anxiety Of pc
pie to speak rather than to listen; thu
\. may seem to be attentive, but the .
d sent look In the eyes betrays the :
K verse. Good listeners, especially
In youthful, are thought worlds Of
a. garrulous old people. We should n
y reply to a recital OF the troubles
2. others by long list of grievances
or our own; nor when shown any thiI
=. y. in which the owner takes pride spt
tho efPeot bv unRraciOuslY referring