Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1910-07-30
Tact and Talent.
(COnana1nicGted.)

tCOnln1ua1cGtcO.)
The following extract from a noted
writer, (name unknown to correspon-
dent) is of such intrinsic value, that |
am most confident that it would be wei
coined by all thoughtful men and women
of this great commonwealth, had they
the opportunity of reading same.
His wise and truthful sayings are with
out the least doubt the sounding note
on which true success rests.
Talent is something. but tact is every
thing. Talent is serious, sober, grave
and respectable; tact Is all that and more
too. 1t is the open eye, the quick ear, the
Judging taste. the keen smell, and the live
ly touch; it is the interpreter of all nd
dies, the surmounter of all difficulties,
the remover of all obstacles. 1t is useful
in all places, and at all times: it is use
full in solitude, for it shows man into
the world.
Talent is power, tact is skill: talent is
weight, tact it momentum; talent knows
what to do, tact knows how to do it;
talent makes a man respectable, tact
will make him respected; talent is wealth.
tact is ready money. For all the practi-
cal purposes, tact carries it against
talent ten to one.
Take them to the theater. and put them
against each other on the stage, and tai
ent shall produce you tragedy that
shall scarcely live long enough to be
condemned. while tact keeps the house
in roar, night after night, with it's sue
cessful farces.
Take them to the bar, and let them
shake their learned curls at each other
in legal rivalry; talent sees its way clear
ly, but tact is first at its journeys end,
talent has many q compliment from the
bench, but tact touches fees. Talent
makes the world wonder that it gets on
no faster, tact srouses establishment that
it gets on so fast. And the secret is, that
it has no weight to carry; it makes no
false steps; it hits the right nail on the
head.
Take them into the church: talent has
always something worth hearing, tact is
sure of abundance OF hearers; talent may
obtain q living. tact viii make one; talent
gets q good name, tact 9 great one; talent
convinces, tact converts; talent Is an
honor to the profession, tact gains honor
from the profession.
Take them to court: talent feels its
weight, tact finds it's way; talent com
mands, tact is obeyed; talent is honored
with appreciation, and tact is blessed by
preferment.
Place them in the senate: talent has
the ear Of the house, but tact wins its
heart, and has its votes; talent is fit for
employment, but tact is fitted for it.
It has knsck of slipping into place
with sweet silence and gGbness of move
ment as billiard ball insinuates itself
into the pocket.
Lastly, let US take them in our educa-
tional institutions, and find out why some
OF the schoolmasters and professors OF
our days are not more successful in their
respective line. Are they well versed in
the Theory and Art Of Teaching9' In
other words are they provided with that
necessary knowledge known as atalent?'
In the majority of cases they are. (Of
course there are exceptions to every rule. J
Then why have they made of teaching
such stumbling block? Why have they
beenso unsuccessful in trying to incul-
cate knowledge to some of our youths ?
am not posing as one of authority
on the subject, but I am more than con-
vinced, that they have, in their mad rush
of trying to mculcate knowledge, left
out, or neglected that most essential fac
tor known as "tact.'
For my part. am positive that this
sworld' of ours would wear more of a
smiling face to the majority of US, if we
but knew how to cultivate and feed that
little word "tact.'
Suppose the world doesn't please you,
Nor the way some people do.
Do you think the whole creation.
Will be altered just for you?
Let US then try, dear readers, what
ever may be our chosen profession keep
talent and Tact side by side, and l
am most sure that instead OF finding the
word unsuccessful staring at us, the
beautiful door OF success shall be open.
ed in due time.
NJ. CHARPENTIER.