News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1904-04-06
TAG I
Sermon Recently Delivered by Rev.
Mrs. E. M. II. Abbott, Pastor Of Unity
Church In Stowe.

morning about asubtle something in
the world of society, which we recog-
nize as tact. 1t appears to be rare
and precious commodity, elusive, and
hard to acquire, where IL has not come
as a natural gilt, and it's absence
is deplOred far ottener than it's
presence is noted. We frequently
hear of people with sad want OF
tact, and | think we are sometimes
made quite uncomfortable by that
want; and we occasionally hear OF
person who has admirable tact, who
seems to know the right thing to say
and do at the right time, who is ever
ready to smooth out tangles, and has
a way of making others glad, instead
of wretched. | presume in cases of
extreme deficit we have wondered at
times how the tactless ones could
make such absurd and trying blum
,ders. And when we have been disturb
ed and made uncomfortable by some
very inOppOrtune remark or subject,
we have wished there were more Gac6
in the world; and no doubt we may
have wished we had more ourselves,
when some after consciousness reveal
ed a stupid or ill-chosen remark OF
our own.
And, perhaps we have all the while
been thinking that it was a gracious
birthright, belonging to a favored
few, and the many must stumble and
blunder through life without it's valu-
able aid. | believe that this was my
own idea of it, without having given
the subject any especial thought,
until a few years ago l read an article
which gave me new idea OF it, and
woke different train OF though. For
it suggested the possibility OF culti-
waiting successfully this desirable and
graceful attribute. | quote a few
lines from the article IN question,
"Of all the gifts, which help make up
a satisfactory and well-rounded char
acter, none, perhaps adds a greater
charm, than tact. The way We touch
Others is often of supreme import
ance; and too often the opportunity
to help or Influence is lost, because e
have presented an angle instead of
curve, Tact is a developed grace,
some seem to have it naturally, but"
this was the point that arrested my
attention-''its bases Is love and sym
patty. Tact" the writer goes en-,
lis but an expression of warm sympa.
thy, which enables us to understand
those with whom we are brought in
contact, and generous desire to do
anything, which will give pleasure
and not pain. So anything which
quickens our sympathles, brings us
nearer to It's possession. There is,
also, mechanical part which can be
acquired, as music Is, by practice.
This consists mainly in giving atten-
ton to what is passing at the mo-
ment."
With this thought in mind, chose
tor my subject 1.-The Tact of Sympa-
thy" as the higher kind of tact; the
kind to Oe sought for IA springing
from deeper feelings; the result
OF the state of mind mentioned i'll our
text, of being Kindly afftc tioned one
to another"
The surface tact, not lying deep
enough to / e quite steady and sure
always; the tact developed by giving
close attention to passing events, us
seen in certain temperaments, which
can somehow fill in the lite with in
terest from whatever is nearest at
hand, easily forgetting apparently
absorbing scenes as soon as they
have passed, fitting from phase TO
phase of lite and from companionship
to companionship, as lightly as
butterfly wings it's way from flower
to flower. This tact, which can thus
devote lively interest to its immedl-
ate surroundings is good, and l
should say that certain transient,
impulsive sympathy may prompt it.
BY it's aid one might say and do
many kind, bel ptul things, and often
prevent wounded feeling. l think it
may vary, and possibly be subject to
moods. 1t might be delightfully."- ap-
parent at one time, and at ahother
seem to have vanished. Yet | am
quite confident that if practiced faith
fully, it would lead directly to the
higher kind, based on deep and gen.
eral sympathy, and this would neither
fail nor vary.
When some country ladies, who
knew not all of table etiquette, came
to Court, King Charles Ii drank his
tea from a saucer as they did, to save
them from confusion. Many small
affairs of this kind have betrayed the
presence of tact, or the sympathy
of Others, which desired. to save the
feelings OF Others, but for clearly illus
trating tact ana the want of it,
think the following anecdote the best.
There was good rector of parish,
who most singulary lacked in tact,
while his wife, who must have been a
great blessing to him, was remark
able for the amount she possessed.
One day a lady, Miss Green, called,
whose personality was very irritating
to the rector, and not wishing to see
her and entirely refusing to assist in
entertaining. he FASTENED to his
study. After time, hearing the
front door close he supposed without
a doubt that the visitor had left the
house, which she had not. Going
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