The Washington herald., 1916-02-12
Business and Financial Gette-Tact
By OHIsoN SWEET maHDEN.

A patent medicine man once went TO
drum up business in a Southern town.
He employed brass band 20 aid him
in attracting attention. and after he
had gathered big crowd, began with
great earnestness and enthusiasm to
tell the people that he had come there
to render them a very great service.
A bullifying fellow I'm the crowd in
terrupted the doctor" bluntly tell
ing him that he took no stock in pat
ent medicines, that they were all poi
sons, and killed more people than they
cured. and. furthermore. he added. Il
have no use for patent medicine men.
either"
This particular medicine man, not
a bit feazed by the UnceremoniUus in
terruption, turned TO the man and
very politely thanked him for what
he had said. Il agree with you" he
went on pleasantly. that, as a whole,
patent medicines are curse. They
have done infinitely more harm than
good: for they have not only ruined
many peoples health. but also their
moral character"
After he had given the whole pat
ent medicine business q terrible black
eye, saying that patent medicine men
were an ignorant lot and that most of
the ingredients which entered into
ever. he swung into a new channel.
and began to dilate on specializing.
He was a great believer In special
lists, he said. and this was the age of
specialists. When he saw that he
had the crowd with him again he mar
rowed his talk down TO the very spe-
Cislty which he was representing. with
engaging modesty. he said he did
not claim II would cure everything,
I htIf
specific.
He graphically painted the dangers
of kidney disease, which was so in
sidious, he said. that only a special
ist could detect it. He earnestly hoped
/ that no one in that crowd had any
trouble with his kidneys. hut Il was
worth a great deal to such as might
unconsciously be affected TO know that
he had there a wonderful specific for
! kidney trouble which was only one
dollar bottle. large part of the
crowd took bottles away with them.
many borrowing money from their
friends in order TO make the purchase.
However we may condemn the pat
ent medicine fraud We cannot but ad-
mire this fellows ready wit and re-
msrksble tact in successfully handling
| the difficult situation created by the
sensible objection in the guIlibIe
crowd. His quIckness was worthy OF
A better cause.
Tact is one Of the greatest aids to
success in life. As a friend winner
and business getter it is invaluable
Tact enables you TO pass sentinels
gates bars and gain an entrance to
the very sanctum sanctoriUm where
the tactless man never enters Tact
gets a hearing where genius cannot:
It is admitted when talent is denied
I is ST n u-h
il cannot get a hearing.
As every fish has its fly" so every
| person can be reached. no matter how
odd or peculiar. by the one who has
tact enough to touch him in the right
place.
What is this miracle worker called
tact?
Tact is vsriously defined as peculiar r
( skin or sdroitness in doing or saying
exactly that which is required by or
is suited to the circUmsts tsnces:" st
is the gift of bringing into action all
| the mental powers in the nick or
| time" II is combination of quick 70
ness, frmness, readiness good nature.
and facility" Webster's Dictionary
gets at the kernel of this wonderful
! quality. Tact. Il says. is "sdroItness
in managing the feelings Of persons
! dealt with: nice perception in seeing
and doing exactly what is best in the
I circumstances"
1t is in managing the feelings" OF
others that the taCtful man scores
his strongest point. II Is in sensing
his moods in being able to put him
! self I'm his place that he IS always
equal to the situation. that he always
exercises that nice perception IN see
| ing and doing exactly what is best in
the circumstances"
The shortest and readiest formula
for acquiring tact is this-Practice the
Golden Rule.
(oOpyTight Igl6)