The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-10-07

weeds,
Remembering that the casting of the seeds
Elliot Field.
The Value of Tact.
"Tact," says the dictionary, lis quick
or intuitive appreciation of what ls tir,
proper or right; fine or ready mental dls-
cernment shown in saying or doing the
proper thing. or especially in avoiding
what would offend or disturb; skill or fac
ulty in dealing with men or emergencies;i.
Sincerity" says the blunt person, "ls
telling exactly what you think about every
thing, without regard to anothers feelings
in the matter" Tact is Sap extra faculty
not understood, because of long disuse, by
such people.
It would be good plan if every theo-
logical seminary and every school Tor
Christian workers possessed class in tact.
Paul long ago suggested the course OF study
to be pursued by such class.
Lack of tact might be called bad habit
rather than a failing, for one is certainly
to blame to some extent for the thought
lessness that will permit constant words
and actions that hurt the feelings or tho
conscience of another soul.
There is a certain evil pleasure to some
people in being what they call sincere.
They cultivate a caustic sincerity, until 1t
becomes habit, and it is very hare, lot
ure in anything not their own. And they
not only do this, but they make a virtue
of it. They know nothing Of the lowly
spirit that can humble itself to meet 9th
ers more lowly, and win their love; that
can conceal personal likes and dislikes and
ignore for the time unessentials. Such may
think they love their neighbors, but surely
not "as themselves" for if they did they
would know at once how their words some
times cut and sting, how unlovely they
make their religion appear, and how use
whom they have first alienatel. True love
for others will beget sympathy. Perfect
sympathy and thought for others will be-
get tact, which is the opposite Of vulgarity,
according to John Ruskin. He says IN
Sesame and Lilies"
But briefly, the essence OF all vulgarlty
lies in want of sensation. Simple and in.
nocent vulgarity is merely an unframed
and undeveloped bluntless of body and
mind. but in true inbred vulgarity there
is deathful callousness, which, in eztrem;
tial habit and crime, without fear, without
pleasure, without horror and without pity
1t is in the blunt hand and the dead heart,
in the diseased habit. in the hardened con.
science, that .iiien become vaigar; they are
forever vulgar, precisely in proportion an
they are incapable of synpathy-of quick
understanding-of all that, in deep insist
ence on the common, but most accurate
term, may be called the tact or touch
faculty OF body and soul; that tact which
the Mimosa has in trees, which the pure
woman has above all creatures; tneness
aud fulness of sensation beyond reason;
the guide and sancti6er of reason itself.
Reason can 7,ut determine what is true. 1t
Is the God.given passion of humanity
which alone can recognize what God has
made good"
Now there are great many questions
of good or evil which while every man
must decide them fox bimself-and. such
decisions are importantLare nevertheless
subordinate to the great question OF sal
vation in Jesus Christ. Paul did not GEEK
to belittle these questions, nor did ne bid
any man go against his conscience IN CT.
think as he did. But he was trying TO
show them that there was a time. for even
important details to stay in the back.
ground; that they could not stuff doc
trincs down the throat of the man who
had no appetite for thern-they must first
make him hungry for Jesus. and then the
living word would be acceptable.
So Paul did not enter The house OF man
who believed 1t wrong to eat neat offered
to idols, and forthwith faunt the new free
dom frcm all such laws that was his IN
Christ Jesus, By saying: Brother, l saw
this morning as l rassed by the market
place some unusually fine cuts Of meat
fresh from the temple offered at low
rate. You should 60 and purchase some"
No. He quietly ate what was set before
him. and won their coincidence by accept.
ing their ways as his own, and then talked
Of Jesus and His new way OF salvation.
The young girl who invites a poor, serv.
ant girl to come to the Christian Endearor
meeting with her and seeks to win her TO
Christ, but remarks on the way to the
meeting that she could never bcar. to wash
dishes because it makes the hands go red
and rough, will never succeed IN her en-
deavoc.
The tactless person has fallen. into the
habit of excusing himself. and Of teclng
that he cannot hep the biunders nc makes.
His friends deplore his stupidity, ard sch
and nelp him on sometimes. But for the
sake of righteousness and the cause Of
Jesus Christ no Christian should allow
2,imself to lie back content, a slave to go
deporable habit. 1t is his duty to break
1t. He can do it with Gods help. First,
he must get into his heart love for his
fellow men and forgetfulnesS OF self.
Next. he m\,st gtudy those about him. and
learn to know their circumstances, their
sorrows and joys, their ways. In short.
he must learn to read character and teaSa.
his heart to sympathize. The new habits
will expel the old-Gracc Livingston Hill.
in the New York Mail and Express.