The Portland daily press., 1894-02-26
THEHoME.
Tact.

The beautiful flower of a high social de-
veIopment in the direction of manner, is
TACT. Sometimes, perhaps too often, it is
confused with policy or diplomacy, but
it is a more genuine, natural and noble
1uality than either. 1t is SO because its
most essential element unselfishness.. Its
oossessor takes cognizance. not OF MS
own interests first, but of those OF 9TH
srs. Yet it brings to him reward great
AZ than any to be had from policy, things
If like kind, in that it gives to him
BOWER wider and more effective than ne
could by any other means achieve.
But with all it's power tact is SO sim
Die thing that it is nowhere so needful
and so productive of good results as IN
5he most intimate relations of life. In
,he home it's value is pre-eminent and
nestimable, and if it were always the
ruling element there it may safely be
Said unhappy homes would nave no ex-
istence.
An idea has got abroad that to be
aomelike home should be primarily
place for undress, where each member
IS to be allowed an almost unlimited
freedom in appearance. speech and &C
ZION, And this idea has weight, since lG
Is based upon an unidentified truth.
A bsence of restraint and of many dlgnl-
Hed reserves essenti al in society gives
the air of familiarity, ease and conn-
dence which are an intrinsic part OF
true home.
No idea, however, has been as common
" misinterpreted and abused. No person
H refinement would admit for moment
that a woman is the happier, IN her
home life for allowing herself to sit
down to the breakfast table in soiled
wrapper and curl papers, or man con
,ciously or unconsciously the better Tor
.ating his dinner in his shirt sleeves.
These are somewhat extreme cases, but
ire not much worse than other forms
If deshabille men and women permit
themselves in the privacy of home, ana
nsuaaly to the silent or avowed dlstaste
II at least some mem bers of their faml-
les Easy manners at home, 20 Drlng
fomfort to all concerned, can go no FUR
her than a relaxation of dignity and for
malism, to degree impossible to oifend
the sensibiIities of any inmate.
Home would be poor place II feelings
could not be given free vent or opinions
plainly expressed without arous1ng sus-
picion or the creation OF mlsunder-
staningL Confidence is truly the Key
note to the highest and happlest rela-
tines between the members of house
hold Yet it's abuse, supposed to be a
righteous use, is probably the strongest
reason for the omission of tact in the
treatment received by children from
each other. 1t is left to what should be
the power of perfect love and family
unity to ward off serious breaches when
the children tease and torment and play
practical Jokes upon each other. and
Ia fnrnQt at home the COM
monest courtesy and consideration they
show to neigh bors and friends as well as
to strangers.
Brother and sisters. for their highest
happiness at home. must regard each
other first as individuals having separate
rights and preferences, which they musg
ever remember when they are boys and
girls as we'll as when they are men and
women.
tactful brother becomes tactful
man. and is in manners, at least, the
most perfect of gentlemen. His good
manners, where women are concerned,
have the most charming element, III tnaG
they are unconscious; they have grown
to De second nature to him, through his
invariable courtesy and consideration for
the women of his own household.
In like manner tactful sister becomes
q factfuI woman, who meets men with
natural ease, devoid of familiarity, and
with dignity untinged by suspicious re,
serve. because she has been accustomed
to accord to the men of her own FAMILY
Il certain reverence and never failing
respect.
Tact in the family means not only In
crease of happiness, but The, develop
ment and strengthening OF character.
Tactful parents give their children to
understand that they expect them to do
their best, and this lead them to good
conduct and to successful achievements.
A tactful brother by little everyday acts
of thoughtfulness does more to cultivate
and preserve the sweetness and woman
illness of his sister than perhaps all other
influences combined. A tactful sister is
her brothers. greatest safeguard in the
trials and temptations Of the world.
She is so through the love she manltests
daily for him and her constant conf
dance in his ability and Willingness TO
do we'll.
Bows and girls trained by tactfulness
and to tactfulness from childhood will
be tactful men and women, thoughtful
and considerable where all others are con-
oerned, and the world will rise up and
call them blessed, because they have
smoothed away rough places and made
life's road less thorny to travel.-From
a Paper by Mary E. Cardhill, in Boston
Budg ct.
Domestic Receipts.
Potato Salad. Gut cold potatoes into
small slices. Then make a dressing as
follows: Break two eggs in dish with
eight tablespoonfuls of vinegar, one
rounding tablespoonful of butter, one
half teaspoonful of mustard. Set the
dish in boiling water and stir constantly
until of the consistency of cream, add
pepper and salt, pour over the potatoes
and mix lightly. ~
Salmon and Potato Balls.-Add TO
potato that has been mashed with lit
tie cream, one-third OF it's bulk of canned
salmon. Mix we'll together, season with
little salt and pepper and make into
small fat cakes; dip these in flour and
put them in the oven to brown on a
well-buttered pan and turn them SO that
both sides will be Drowned just alike.
If preferred, they may be Drowned in
the frying-pan on top of the stove.
Luncheon Cake.-One cupful of sugar,
one-half cup of butter worked to fine
cream, one egg, one cupful of sweet
milk, two cupfuls of -four, three tea