The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-11-30
THE WOMAN WITHOUT TACT.
Because of This Failing She Lived
in Continual Solitude at a
Summer ReaOrt.

There was q woman at summer ho-
tel not long ago who was very, very
unpopular. She was an exceedingly
handsome woman, with fine mind
and an excellent education. More than
that, half of her frocks had the name
of French coutouriere on the inside
of the bodice, SO that it was always a
surprise to a newcomer to see that
she was generally avoided, says the
New York Herald.
The older boarders when they were
questioned as to the reason for this
invariably replied systematically:
s'Wait, and you'll find out" and find
out the newcomer invariably did be-
fore he had talked to her desolate la
dyship half dozen times, for. despite
her good looks and her intellect and
her frocks, she had fatal facility for
saying the wrong thing.
After much consideration the fem
inine jury which "sat" upon her case
decided that she wasn't malicious;
she was merely lacking in tact. I'm
fortunately, however, her speeches
hurt just as much as though she had
deliberately intended to wound, and
so it was that she spent most of her
time in solitary grandeur, while the
other women gathered together in lit
tie groups and had delightful gossips
over the fancy work.
Three newcomers took pity on her
loneliness, however, and endeavored in
small way to be neighborly with
her. The first was very charming
young woman, who limped slightly
and wore boot with heavy cork
sole to make this fact less noticeable.
So successful was she in her effort
that few even OF her friends guessed
she was lame, since she wore her
skirts unusually long.
No one will ever know how the tact
less woman discovered that the young
woman really had an unevenness in
her gait, but she did, for one evening
she said clearly, so that all those in
her immediate neighborhood must
have heard, gazing serenely at the vic
tim the while: at must be dreadful
to be deformed. think you bear your
affiiction so well, Miss Smith"
OF course Miss Smith writhed In
spirit, ana equally, of course, her
philanthropic intentions in regard to
the isolated one dissolved like mist be-
fore the sun.
The second one to suffer was an
other woman, also young, who, for
economy's sake boards in town with a
number Of other girls in apartments
that are under the direction of a
board of lady managers, but which
can in no wise be looked upon as a
charitable place.
ut must be awful to live in an in
stitution, isn't it?" asked the lonely
lady of her one day, apropos of moth
ing at all, for she had never mem
toned her city residence anywhere
where the tactless one could hear it.
The third and last young woman
who immolated herself upon the altar
of Christian charity received the worst
dab of all, for 81 think it's absurd, p
said this blunt person equally to her,
for person of your age to play GRO
quet; that's game intended for
younger folks"
"And haven't turned 20 yet" said
the young woman, in telling the story
later, "but instantly felt decrepit
and as If I should do nothing but sit
in corner and knit. Talk about your
deceitful people; I'd rather be thrown
with some one who praises my eyes
and nose and hair in quite fulsome
fashion than with the woman with
out tact"
And, to be truthful so would all Of
us, for he who lacks tact really lacks
good feeling, and SO he administers
many blow that wounds sensitive
person without either reason or COM
junction.