Middletown transcript., 1899-02-25
HARD, HORSE SENSE
success -

SasUccEssn y
m ERHAPS there is no other quality 0
u Such inestimable value o young maj
or woman, who is ,rying to get ON ii
7 the world, as that quality of common
sense which enables one 10 weigh and bal
ance opposing arguments, adjust conflicting
circumstances, and draw wise conclusions
A man may possess ponderous brain
! may have great ability may be, in fact, |
genius. and may succeed 10 a certain extent
without what we may call common ol
horse sense; he may write learned essay:
J upon abstruse and difficult subjects; be
may delve into science, and leave the world
precious legacies of knowledge; he may be
and great gatherer of facts and obserYa.
tions; but bis work will always lack some
thing necessary for is full completeness,
and he will always be, to some extent, at a
disadvantage in life, if he lacks that ele-
ment which enables him to make the best
use of his knowledge, and 10 utilize to the
utmost the results of his investigations.
People who lack common sense are not
i practical, no matter how profound their
knowledge, or how broad their culture. On
the other hand, man with common sense
is always master of the situation; he knows
what to do in an emergency, and how to
turn himself when In tight place: he
knows men, how TO manage them; in short,
he has tact. He knows how 10 adjust him
self to circumstances; he gets hold of the
right thing and seizes itby the right handle;
he seems to have an intuition, an instinct,
which shows him how to do things as they
ought to be done.
MASTER OF THE SITUATION
The merchant with tact studies his busi-
ness and his customers as an artist studies
his canvas. He knows what will please his
patrons; he knows the difference between
city and country demands; he studies the
art of displaying goods to the best possible
advantage; he dresses his show-windows in
good taste, and rearranges them often: he
knows how to attract buyers, and studies
the art of selling; he knows the greatsuper-
iority of attractive and good hammered
clerks; he appreciates the value of courtesy,
cleanliness, and attractiveness; he knows
that pleased customer is the best adYer-
tisement; he knows how 10 present goods
in the most attractive way; his great object
is to please those who trade with him, not
to force upon them goods which they do
not need, or do not want All these things
are Greek to a merchant without tact: he
doesn't see the value of all this nonsense.
The man with sense appreciates the i'm.
portance of always knowing exactly how
he stands, of accurate bookkeeping, and of
frequent stock taking. He guards his cred
it as he does his honor: he is prompt to the
very moment of meeting his obligations; he
never lets his paper go to protest; be is ex-
act and systematic in his methods; his en-
ployees know their places and keep them.
Common sense always stands firm, in |
spite of false pride, which may demand a |
larger and finer store, or a more beautiful |
home. No matter how brilliantly hope |
may gid the future, common sense sticks
to what it can afford; dependency may
paint dark pictures and predict hard times
and poor business, but common sense keeps
on the even tenor of its way, and Still buys
what is necessary.
IT FACES THE RISING SUN
Common sense is always progressive, yet
prudent; always conservative, yet wisely so.
1t enables physician to understand his
patient. He does not alarm him by telling
him of unfavorable symptoms, but tries
to conserve all his energies for combating
the disease. It enables him to understand
human nature, and to take advantage of +
circumstances in every position in life.
Nothing will take The place of this COM
mon sense. A man may haye college or
university training and still utterly lack it.
Capital is not substitute; many of our
great merchants have begun without it,
while many have been utter failures, who h
began with it.
Men without common sense, as a rule.
haye very little mechanical ability, They
cannot saw board straight, make joint,
Or drive nail. They can never .'fix - any.
thing that is out of repair,-a lock, win
dow or door; they seem without ability TO
adjust themselves to new conditions Ii
TALENT NEEDS THE HELP or TACT.
Some poets composers. musicians, and ar i
lists have lacked this indiiinable aomethine i
which we call common sense. e
have known professors of great reputa-.l il
alton who could scarcely conduct the most / i
ordinary business transaction. and scarcely
Inew how to draw check, write a prorni- !
ory note, or make draft, l know of q a
lewly-married professor whose wife asked n
lin 70 bring home some coffee when he d
ventto town. He told The grocer that his V
vile wanted some coffee. The grocer asked Il
i'm how much. "Qh. don't know, was h
he replyi .she didn't say, but I should r,
hipk quart or two would dor
Many readers viii recall the story Of OF
reat musician who sent three hundred fr
orins to pay for half . dozen shirts bl
BY keeping ones eyes open. BY cultivate III
lg ones powers of observation, By exercis. g
e one's natural Judgement, ali Of which 81
Jay be done without interference with or n,
etraction from his occupation. whatever
may Be. he may continually and largely bl
id to that most ssfvicsable Of all qualities, Il
'mmon sense and consequently to bis own Il
eii-doing. ID
II talents, cqlliralsd wen, ps
m ziehtly 1zsa, tAsy q sursis ten. an