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prove its most influential teachers。 They have more self…
restraint than men； and are naturally more gracious and polite。
They possess an intuitive quickness and readiness of action； have
a keener insight into character； and exhibit greater
discrimination and address。 In matters of social detail； aptness
and dexterity come to them like nature； and hence well…mannered
men usually receive their best culture by mixing in the society of
gentle and adroit women。
Tact is an intuitive art of manner； which carries one through a
difficulty better than either talent or knowledge。 〃Talent；〃 says
a public writer； 〃is power： tact is skill。 Talent is weight： tact
is momentum。 Talent knows what to do： tact knows how to do it。
Talent makes a man respectable： tact makes him respected。 Talent
is wealth： tact is ready…money。〃
The difference between a man of quick tact and of no tact whatever
was exemplified in an interview which once took place between Lord
Palmerston and Mr。 Behnes； the sculptor。 At the last sitting
which Lord Palmerston gave him； Behnes opened the conversation
with〃Any news； my Lord； from France？ How do we stand with
Louis Napoleon？〃 The Foreign Secretary raised his eyebrows for an
instant； and quietly replied； 〃Really； Mr。 Behnes； I don't know： I
have not seen the newspapers！〃 Poor Behnes； with many excellent
qualities and much real talent； was one of the many men who
entirely missed their way in life through want of tact。
Such is the power of manner； combined with tact； that Wilkes； one
of the ugliest of men； used to say； that in winning the graces of
a lady； there was not more than three days' difference between him
and the handsomest man in England。
But this reference to Wilkes reminds us that too much importance
must not be attached to manner； for it does not afford any genuine
test of character。 The well…mannered man may； like Wilkes； be
merely acting a part； and that for an immoral purpose。 Manner；
like other fine arts； gives pleasure； and is exceedingly agreeable
to look upon； but it may be assumed as a disguise； as men 〃assume
a virtue though they have it not。〃 It is but the exterior sign of
good conduct； but may be no more than skin…deep。 The most highly…
polished person may be thoroughly depraved in heart； and his
superfine manners may； after all； only consist in pleasing
gestures and in fine phrases。
On the other hand； it must be acknowledged that some of the
richest and most generous natures have been wanting in the graces
of courtesy and politeness。 As a rough rind sometimes covers the
sweetest fruit； so a rough exterior often conceals a kindly and
hearty nature。 The blunt man may seem even rude in manner； and
yet； at heart； be honest； kind； and gentle。
John Knox and Martin Luther were by no means distinguished for
their urbanity。 They had work to do which needed strong and
determined rather than well…mannered men。 Indeed； they were both
thought to be unnecessarily harsh and violent in their manner。
〃And who art thou；〃 said Mary Queen of Scots to Knox； 〃that
presumest to school the nobles and sovereign of this realm？〃
〃Madam；〃 replied Knox； 〃a subject born within the same。〃 It is
said that his boldness； or roughness； more than once made Queen
Mary weep。 When Regent Morton heard of this； he said； 〃Well； 'tis
better that women should weep than bearded men。〃
As Knox was retiring from the Queen's presence on one occasion； he
overheard one of the royal attendants say to another； 〃He is not
afraid！〃 Turning round upon them； he said： 〃And why should the
pleasing face of a gentleman frighten me？ I have looked on the
faces of angry men； and yet have not been afraid beyond measure。〃
When the Reformer； worn…out by excess of labour and anxiety； was
at length laid to his rest； the Regent； looking down into the open
grave； exclaimed； in words which made a strong impression from
their aptness and truth〃There lies he who never feared the
face of man！〃
Luther also was thought by some to be a mere compound of violence
and ruggedness。 But； as in the case of Knox； the times in which
he lived were rude and violent； and the work he had to do could
scarcely have been accomplished with gentleness and suavity。 To
rouse Europe from its lethargy； he had to speak and to write with
force； and even vehemence。 Yet Luther's vehemence was only in
words。 His apparently rude exterior covered a warm heart。 In
private life he was gentle； loving； and affectionate。 He was
simple and homely； even to commonness。 Fond of all common
pleasures and enjoyments； he was anything but an austere man； or a
bigot； for he was hearty； genial； and even 〃jolly。〃 Luther was
the common people's hero in his lifetime； and he remains so in
Germany to this day。
Samuel Johnson was rude and often gruff in manner。 But he had
been brought up in a rough school。 Poverty in early life had made
him acquainted with strange companions。 He had wandered in the
streets with Savage for nights together； unable between them to
raise money enough to pay for a bed。 When his indomitable courage
and industry at length secured for him a footing in society； he
still bore upon him the scars of his early sorrows and struggles。
He was by nature strong and robust； and his experience made him
unaccommodating and self…asserting。 When he was once asked why he
was not invited to dine out as Garrick was； he answered； 〃Because
great lords and ladies did not like to have their mouths stopped；〃
and Johnson was a notorious mouth…stopper； though what he said was
always worth listening to。
Johnson's companions spoke of him as 〃Ursa Major；〃 but； as
Goldsmith generously said of him； 〃No man alive has a more tender
heart； he has nothing of the bear about him but his skin。〃 The
kindliness of Johnson's nature was shown on one occasion by the
manner in which he assisted a supposed lady in crossing Fleet
Street。 He gave her his arm； and led her across； not observing
that she was in liquor at the time。 But the spirit of the act was
not the less kind on that account。 On the other hand； the conduct
of the bookseller on whom Johnson once called to solicit
employment； and who； regarding his athletic but uncouth person；
told him he had better 〃go buy a porter's knot and carry trunks；〃
in howsoever bland tones the advice might have been communicated；
was simply brutal。
While captiousness of manner； and the habit of disputing and
contradicting everything said； is chilling and repulsive； the
opposite habit of assenting to； and sympathising with； every
statement made； or emotion expressed； is almost equally
disagreeable。 It is unmanly； and is felt to be dishonest。 〃It may
seem difficult；〃 says Richard Sharp； 〃to steer always between
bluntness and plain…dealing； between giving merited praise and
lavishing indiscriminate flattery； but it is very easygood…
humour； kindheartedness； and perfect simplicity； being all that