The Washington herald., 1914-08-10
DIR. MARDEN'S
UPLFT TALKS
DOING AND SAYING THE
RIGHT THING.
By oRISoN SWEET MARDEN.
sCopyrikht, lQ4.)

Author of Pushing to the Front, etc.
tcopyiEht. IgL)
The late John Boyle o'Reilly was one
day walking along the street in Boston,
when q stranger approached him from
behind, and. mistAking him for friend
whom he had not seen for a long time,
slapped him on the shoulder and greeted
him heartily. Many men In o'Reillys
place would have been annoyed and
shown IL, but not so the poet Turning
about he stretched out his hand. Il am
not Jack" said he; but I am glad to
shake hands with any man who is as
glad to see an old friend as you seem
to be-" This handsome speech was q
great relief TO the stranger, who had
been much embarrassed upon seeing an
unknown face turned toward him
The possessor Of sncn splendid tact
who can instantly place . man at his
ease when he has put himself at dis
advantage by making q mistake, has an
inestimsbIe advantage In the battle Of
life.
Who can estimate the loss to the
world which results from the lack Of tact
the blundering, the stumbling, the slips,
the falls, the fatal mistakes which come
to people because they do not know
how to do or say the right tring at the
right time! How often we see splendid
because people lack this indsfnable, ex4
Quisite quality which we call tact
You may have q college education; you
may have a rare training In your spe-
cialty; you may be a genius In certain
lines, and yet not get on in the world;
but IL you have tact end one talent
combined with stick-to-it-tveness. you
will be promoted, you will surely climb.
A careful observer says that tact is
49, serial UhAAlg
easily, 'it will often do more to make a
cumbersome political, social. or religious
machine more than the greatest mental.
physical, or moral strength"
Tact enabled Lincoln to extricste him
self from a thousand unfortunate and
raIntul situations with politicians during
the civil war. In fact. without II, the
result of the war might have been en-
tirely changed.
Some people show want OF tact In re-
sentinG every slight or petty insult. how
ever unworthy their notice. Others make
Don Quixote's mistake of fighting g
windmill by engaging In controversies
with public speakers and editors. who
are sure to have the advantage Of the
final word.
Tact Is q large factor In the success
Of many o business man and woman, for
Il is that rare combination Of good
temper, ready wit, and quickness Of per-
ception. which IL a match for any eX-
igency Of the occasion instantly. 1t Is
never offensive, but is balm allaying
suspicion and soothing.
In q large city hotel a certain room
clerk had an extraordinary salary. He
was bland, attentive, and cordial. He
could stow away more people In the
hooks, crannies, and corners Of the house,
and make them feet comfortable, than
almost any other man He came down
one morning and found a well-knovn
guest pacing the ONCE in evident irrita-
ton. To his cheerful good-morning, the
clerk received gruff reply. when did
you come INF" Last night" II hope
you have a good room" II have not.
Then sent me up to the attic where there
Is not room In my quarters to swing q
cat" "Oh, that stupid night clerk did
not know you brought your cat with you.
I'll manage Il after breakfast You shall
have a room big enough to swing half
a-dozen cats" with a hearty laugh at
this tactful speech, the customer turned
uff to breakfast
Is not that q beautiful story which is
told Of Queen Victoria, who had COM
manded the attendance OF a professional
pianist from Vienna to play for her and
for some Of her children? 1t was her
custom to dismiss the performer with q
few words Of thanks and royal gift.
This old musician. however. gave her
great pleasure. and she requested him to
play the national hymn OF his country.
As soon as the FIRST notes were struck,
she rose and remained standing until he
had finished. The old man retired in a
transport OF pleasure. 'She gave me-"
he said afterwards. "a diamond pin; but
for her TO pay honor to the national
hymn Of my country was better than
any diamond to me-"