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Show TACT A VALUABLE ASSET H Sometimes the Proper Word at the Proper Time Saves the uav. 1 BY LUCILLE DAUDET. illustrative as well a- Ian amusing little incident Occurred Oc-curred "among girls," itVs perhaps tho best examplo of effusive fact that I know of. Some e'-ht or ten sophisticated little Cappers Cap-pers wore chatting over the t?acup3 one day, when one. forgetful of fore-warnings, fore-warnings, made a remark that was offending of-fending to a peculiarly sensitive member mem-ber of th,o party, and an almost com-pleto com-pleto stranger tp tho others. Of course, a dreadful opprosslvo silence fell on the heels of the speech, but a deH word or two turning the conversation conver-sation to other channels saved tho momentand mo-mentand the feejlugs, too. of tho offender. of-fender. The heroin nf the moment wWlnltr men rrn ! ("-. r- V. n- . . t : t tnr-t. clowed with pride at the successful success-ful ft. nnd did an undue amount or snnrkllng thereafter as a result Nothing Noth-ing more was said of the sllcht calam-itv calam-itv until H camr time to lenvc. On the wav home, the heroine, the much-abashed much-abashed little bunqlor and a third parv hod the misfortune to rldo to-iefVr to-iefVr witlt that peculiarly feminine InsMnet. for observing meaningless details, de-tails, the three excitedly discussed every ev-ery slntrle feature that tho afternoon offered in tho way of who were there, whpt they wore. Mabel's slnclm, Harriet's playing and Gladys' little IH talk. Then there was a lull which made Miss Tact uncomfortable, so sho leaned over, and with a delightfully in- timate air, said: "Oh, wasn't that a IH perfectly dreadful break you mado this afternoon. Helen?" H Tact that Is conscious is really no tact at all. Strange to say. though. fl what under critical and dispassionate analys's In nothing more than a ays- tern of social tactics Is moro often l than not mistaken for the saving grace "1 and graclousness of chailty. The wo- man who knowingly or unthinkingly ll pays that sho wouldn't wear diamonds in tho morning and addresses her re- ll marks to one who sometimes fails in 'll this respect is tactless to say tho least. Il but tho third party who tritely ob- serves that the first- offender never IH wears them at any time, and sends H home the cruel inference with a fleet- inz smile, is Infinitely worse. So you see. tact .n tho true sense of the word' is tho unconscious expres- IH s'on. as It wore, of a kind heart. Tt IH fnke. fxnuislte skill to save awkward slfnntlons 'n tho social world; but it IH takes a big heart to exercise that skill. True, many offend In word or et without any previous intention of doing so; but rlncere contrition usu-nllv usu-nllv makes-up for what Is lacking In social niceties. Polish, then. Is the salvition of the klndlv bungler. But what of tho effusively tactful nnd they are multitudinous; what of IH the recognized social diplomat who iH smooins uie situation only to court aa- jH miration? Invariably you will find s her hypercritical of the demeanor of IH others, keenly on tho watch for prob- jH able breaks, eager for tho opportunity to play heroine. She represents a cult, H that is all. And her salvation is heart IH interest puro and simple, forgetfulness of her responsibility to wounded feel- |