The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1906-10-04
The Value of Tact.
We Should Use Kindness and Ex-
hibit Tact in Dealing With One
Another Lecture by Rev. J.
Klein Of Sumter, S. {.

ity in Jewish ethics, shall treat this
subject from q universal standpoint.
The world is full OF friction. A planet
inhabited by millions OF human be-
ings, cannot be free from the attrae-
tion of human forces. The desires,
actions and aims of mankind cross
one another i'm thousand and one
ways. The religious beliefs, the po-
litical views, the popular opinions OF
men are represented by every hue
and shade. The forces and the in
fluences of environment produce
among humanity the most different
and opposing types. Every country
exhibits peculiar national type.
Every race, savage or civilized, has
distinctive features which color all
phases of it's life, its dress and ap-
pearance, thought and institutions.
In every country and in every people
there are again differences OF men
and conditions.
This fact of variety has become IL
commonplace When we familiarly
say, 1T takes all kinds OF people to
make up the world,'' we are really
putting in Il popular way the scien-
tific demonstration, the guidingprin-
ciple OF anthropology, that mankind
has displayed varying moods and
omdes that history means the study
of these contrasting ways, that life is
the sum total of all the influences of
the past; that civilization is a con-
nection woven from the threads of
mankind's multifOrm thought, life
and activity.
Since life is not n simple but COM
pound, not d uniformity but a multi
plicity, since all the forces of the past
are acting and speaking in US, since
all manners OF men are crowded upon
this planet striving for different aims,
thinking in different ways, moved by
different motives, following different
inherited impulses, since mankind is
as many sided as the human mind,
and soul, we should have a tolerant
attitude towards the world at large,
we should be sympathetic with the
desires and aims of mankind; we
should use kindness and exhibit tact
in dealing with the mass Of our fellow
creatures. Tact is kindness, used
with discretion. Tact is sympathy,
delicately adjusted. Tact is good
sense, applied at the proper time.
Kindness and tact are akin to one
another
Kindness is the feeling whereby we
avoid doing offense to Others. Kind
ness is the God-giveth gift, the divine
quality of mercy expressed in human
terms. Kindness is the voice harmon
izing the discord of life, blending the
harsh sounds into pure and sweet
tones. When kindness is coupled with
discretion, the quality of tactfulness
is evolved. Tact is the use OF kind
ness at the critical moment. 1t may
be in word said or avoided, in Il
thought, suppressed in malicious
desire, checked in a sneering and
slandering speech cut off. Tact is the
rare sense of proportion whereby the
intelligent man adjusts himself to a
situation in life, and makes himself
felt as sweetering and chastenlng
influence Tact is founded upon d
clear, and thorough knowledge OF the
differences of men. Tact is the grace
full art of polishing the rough places
of life, of stroking the hand so as to
smooth the roughness.
As the skillful artist by one master
stroke gives painting a rounded ef'
feet, so the tactful person may, by a
supreme show of tact, bring peace
and harmony among men.
i We should deal sincerely with our
fellowmen, and not in subtle way.
1--we should not coil ourselves into the
confidence of others, and suddenly
throw forth to give mortal sting.
MANY persons are called tactful who
have an art of insinuating them
selves into the good graces OF the
iworld by deceit and trickery, by q
prettily turned speech, by saying to
each and every one just what ne or
she would like to hear. But insincer'
lity and tact, are as wide apart as the
poles. The truly tactful person isnot
insincere, for kindness is the guiding
thread OF his conduct. The insincre
person can never be tactful because
the motive is never kind but unkind
The insincere person imagines that
he is using tact by acting towards
the world in a hypocritical way
Watch this species OF so-called gener
ais of tact; observe their train o
thought and course of actions, search
deep into the motives, land selfishness
found at the root of such miscon
ceived and misplaced tact. Tact can
not be selfish, as kindness cannot
have the element of self.
If we trace back the word "tact' tt
J it's origin in the speech OF Rome, th'
( mother ofmodern language, the keeI
appreciator of the delicate distinc
tions of life.
The source of the word is found il
I the Latin verb "Tango," ''to touch
I to feel, to touch with discretion.
! But tact is not mere polite quality
! Tact is not the smooth courtesy
4 made by the dude and the fop.
Tact does not consist in the arti
! fetal etiquette OF the so-called leade
! of fashion. Tact may appear in th
humblest and the meanest. Tao
may be shown by the pauper to tn
prince and by the prince to the pau
] per. The very fine gilt and glitter Q
4 superficial society, the so-called fash
( ionable usages, the smiles Of the art
4 full, all these politenesses are merel..
! the sham and show of courtesy, tn
( deceptive parading of true and del
7 cate tact. 1t is true that human ma
\ ture loves to relax itself in innocen
\ mirth and pleasure. The sorrows c
life are forgotten in the wild whirl {
Z Joyous excitement. The sense OF nj
4 NOR is sharpened. Smiles are every
4 where seen. Life seems a round {
4 pleasure. The world has become
o~a:n Cor vnirfh an