The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-03
The Triumph of Tact.
ID alNavs trinmnhs.

1t always triumphs.
You can learn to use tact in CONVEX
satiOn just as readily as you can ac-
quire the low, agreeable voice and prop
er English.
Tact includes the gentle art Of never
treading verbally on other peoples toes.
For example, it was a pitifully tact
less girl who bluTted out at a dirner
table her opinion Of stamp collectors as
harmless idiots"
Now. the very nice man who sat on
her right was d phiIaIethian OF no mean
attachments. He was a dignided, bril-
liant lawyer as well, and % in love
with his hobby that he never fOrgave
the pretty damseI- her thOughtless re-
mark. which was foolish. careless and
unkiEd. as such sweeping critical state
ments ever are. 1t has been well said:
Silence is the art Of fools, and one Of
the virtues Of the timid."
Better sit silent than fall into such
an error as the above. The error of the
clever and the tactIess.
Cherish opinions and convictions. but
be careful how you express them.
Express your approval Of those YOU
both like and admire, but preserve an
aniable reserve when that Of which
YOU diSapprove. or those you dislike,
chances to be under discussion. Re
member that your next neighbor at
table, or in a group on the tennis court,
may be the sister Of the individual YOU
have vigorously condemned, or the au-
thor Of the book you found 80 stupid
BY following this principle Of dis
Greet silence. you are merely observing
the golden rule, and YOU will. therefore,
never be a terror to your hostess, and
a too common stumbling block in the
way OF social progress viii be removed
from your path.
The tactfuI taIker again Is one who
has not an emphstic habit of speech.
The tactful talker does not use many
foreign or unusual words in the course
of conversation, and ne is never guilty
OF the shocking sOlecisgn of interrupting
the speech Of others.
1t displays infinite tact when you do
not attempt TO correct the pronuncia
tion Of others by promptly and correct
~ using a word that has just been in
correctly spoken Remember the good
sense ard delicacy displayed By the
Regent George. who drank his tea from
TIE saucer because an aged and old
fashioned gentleman who came to see
him followed this ANTICIPATED custom.
a cardinal principle in tactfuI con-
versation is 10 avoid arguments. unless
you know when and how gracefully t.
Withdraw before friction has excited
heat.
Graceful Little Speeches.
Learn to use them. They please ev-
erybody, and they have a very iinpor-
taut place in daily life and daily talk
i beg pardon?" for instance, ia more
graceful than What say" when "a re-
mark has escaped your ear.
SHOW stimulating appreciation of the
conversational efforts of . companion
by using now and then the expressions.
How interesting" or Won't you tell
me more Of your experiences ?" OF, You
tel that very well; I can almost see
it as il happened"
When you part from a man or wo-
man who has striveE 10 be agreea bic,
do not fail to express pleasure in his OF
her talk. Say, il YOU like. Il am sorry
you must go; ] have 80 enjoyed this
converse tion." or Il hope I may soon
meet you again; this little tax with
you has given me great pleasure
il you are not a fluent conversation
alist yourself these little phrases go
far to show how highly you estimate
the talents of others, and they thus
compensate largely for your sly ST.
Icncc.
Should your conversation suffer in
terruptiOn or your attention be called
away. be sure to say first 10 your com
Ianiou. Excuse me for an Instant"
Slight as these courtesies seem. they
carry the greatest influence with them.
and you cannot afford TO neglect them.
Be An Inspiring Influence.
a witty French writer las said. ITO
know how 10 be silent ia more profitable
than IL know how 20 speak.
Pray Dc not make the mistake Of
thinking that the whole art Of charm
ing conversation lies IN talking your
self. some, in fact. a very great deal
Of If. GWells in knowing how 70 make
ytheTS talk There IS no secret ir this
Tie way 10 inspire the ei0quence of