The Detroit times., 1912-08-10

Tact" at root, means touch. Rus
kin calls the quality, OF tact the touch :
sense" The way in which We touch
lives is the evidence OF our tact The
gentle, conslderate, loving toucn is the
kind OF contact which deserves to he
called Christian tact"
Good manners and bad morals, which
often go together. have wrought won
drous harm In this world; and bad man i
ners and good morals have done dam
considerateness OF blunt. outspoken.
honest persons, who pride themselves
on speaking their mind" has hurt the
fair name OF goodness. OF course.
truth ought to be spoken but II ought
always be spoken az the Bible COM
mands '1n love" Human hearts are
wondrously sensitive plants.
The Standard Dictionary defines
tact" as "A quick or intuitive appreci :
alton OF what is ft proper. or right;
fine or ready mental discernment
shown In saying or doing the proper
thing. or especially In avoiding what
would offend or disturb; skill or facil-
cies; adroitness cleverness; address
Drummond called courtesy love In
society" The minor excellencies OF
character are but the lowering OF a
beautiful Inward spirit. Tact Is the
conslderateness which the love OF
Jesus shows TO all men We try "a
touch other lives gently and helpfully,
because We are sure that IL what
Christ did Himself. and what He would
have His friends do.
Life is the great school The more
learn that the art OF living, OF get
ting along with people Is primarily
that OF respecting their rights and
their feelings as well. What is tact
but the Golden Rule In action? We
learn 10 keep our rough fingers OFF the
sensitive spots In our associates char
acters, simply because we do not want
TO hurt them We know our own need
Tor consideration and We know our
brother has the same need "Remem
Der the other person" Is a simple pre-
scrlptien for tact.
Your suave. easy. elegant. tactful
person needs to beware especially OF
the pitfall OF insincerity Truth In
the inward parts is more important
than external polish To be honest
Is Fundamental The flatterer not
but he also fails to attain his pur-
pose. Disingenuousness quickly be-
comes known. The person who tries
TO please people, at any price. eventu-
ally displeases thcm Sycophancy AMI
FOR oil whose tact becomes mere men,
pleasing.
Note the emphasisi upon the frs
word In the topic. II Is Christian tact
tact upon a holy mission. tact EN-
ployed as "A minister OF Christ No
act for tact's sake. but tact for Christi
sake. The trait Is to be cultivated les,
for our own adorning than for the min
istcy OF the Master. We are concerne,
10 cultivate all the Christian virtues
for the sake OF the fair name OF tn,
religion we profess. 1t does matte
what the world thinks OF US, for W,
are Christ's advertisements We shoulC
make Him attractive 10 men. Thus 4
becomes a Christian duty to displa,
the tact which Is based on His exampl,
and born OF His spirit.
Talent Is something but tact 4
everything Tact Is not a seventl
sense, but is the life OF all the fve I
Is the Interpreter OF all riddles tn
surmounter OF all difficulties. tho re
mover OF all obstacles.--Scargill
Tact Is one OF the first OF mental vIr
tues. the absence OF which IL fire
quently fatal to the best talents
Simms.
Tact lubrIcates life's machinery.
Truth IL tactfulness and tactfulnes
In truth IL the goal