ACQUIRE THE HABIT OF TACT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1611, 14 January 1903, Page 27

ACQUIRE THE HABIT OF TACT.

(By Margaret Stowe.)

There is no reason in the world why every one oannot acquire the quality of taot; the power of adaptation. Wo are all horn with it, hut in some people it is developed more strongly than in others.

It is a power in itself to have a natural case and charm of manner, and -without apparent effort to be able always to do and to say the right tiling at tho right time. In fact, tact is most essential, as is shown by the fact that those Who get on in the world are, as a rule, keen to perceive the right thing to be done at the right time. Think what an advantage it must be, and also what a plea-sure, to be able to have tho faculty of placing those you meet out of your home, as well as your guests, at perfect ease. A story is told of the late John Boyle O’Reilly, who was walking along -Boylston street in Boston one day, when a stranger approached him from behind, and mistaking him for a friend whom lie had not seen for a long time, slapped him on the shoulder and greeted liim heartily. Many men in O’Reilly’s place _ would have been annoyed and shown, it, hut 31 ot so with the poet. Turning about, he stretched out his hand. “I am not Jack,” he said, “but I am glad to shako hands with any man who is as glad to see an old friend a.s you seem to be.”

This writer has had one or two experiences of the same kind, and can understand and feel what a great relief that tactful speech must have been to tho stranger, who, no doubt, was much embarrassed upon seeing an unknown face turned towards him. The person of fine taot and fibre never sees personal deformities or blemishes, much less reminds one of them. A cripple once said h© could classify his friends as to their manner and breeding by drawing a line between those who asked him how it happened and those who made him forget his misfortune.

Women, as a rule, are more tactful than #ion, and often they instinctively say and do the fitting thing more easily than is common with men.

A beautiful, story is told of Queen Victoria, who had commanded the attendance of a professional pianist from Vienna to play for her. She geineralUy dismissed the performer with a few words of thanks and a gift, hut this old musician 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 arose and remained standing until he had finished. The old man retired in a transport of pleasure. “She gave me,” he said afterward, “a diamond pin; but for her to pay honour to the national hymn of my country was better than any diamond to me.”