The gazette., 1799-04-01
Of the Art Of acquiring Reputation.
rFrony ibs European Magazine

| youths of my acquaintance, TO let down what
OBJ ervations my reading and experience furn1h
me with on thi- lubjed. For It's certain, that,
on the one hand, men have lome,imes failed Of
attaining their end from ignorance and want OF
proper advice; and, on the other, that lie IS
too lhort for the flow Progrels which unalllit1d
merit makes towards diftn6tion. | have there
fore undertaken to point out the ns7ret way 10
| this Object But in order that | may he per
| fedly under0ood, it is necefary in the trlt
place to diltinguith between Fame and RePu
taton. Fame is in a manner the birthright oi
few men, elevated by their natural abilities
above he relt Of their fPecies. 1t is truly iaid
by the Poet, that Fame is no'plant that grows
on mortal foil for, being intended to crown
thoie who produce f5mething difficult, orgna (,
and uleful, il is feldom conferred on the living
inventors, becaufe men are alwavs tardy iu
| (tarchrg for merit, and after death higher ar
| plaul- IS d-hred than that of moItals. But
Reputation is not only produced on earth, bu
with proper cultivation may b reared in barren
| .oils, aud brought u produce abundant fruit.
| 1t is Ct the management ot this ear hy plant
that | deGsn to fpeak At pref.nt, the former
having b=en largely conGdeTed by many pre-
ceding authors.
Integrity, IA ents, and humanity, are the
qualities requilite FIR ,ining reputation, and
whoever poneGes them has a jua tide to The
goodwill and retped Of mankind. But as they
are generally accompanied BY dif1dence, they
are frequently overlooked, and it becomes ne
ceaaty to take lome method Of dilpiayi1g hem
70 the public. This neceaity i, now 70 well
underItOod, that every man is exPeited to make
the mott filming polible exhibition Of Ii, talents
upon every occaGon. It was fome time ago a
maxim in polieneis, never to introduce you lelf
your profsiion or affairs in converf4tion, without
fom- urgent neceGity 70 inconveni-nt a rule
could never hold its authority long, and it Is
accordingly aJrogated. But this, with the
other methods Of dilp'aying merit, viii come
under confi1eration hereafter. There are ma
| ny perions who PoheE only two Of The quail
| ne, nscefary to for N the BATS of reputation,
many who have only one, and many in whom
| they are entirely wanting. Now, as the honor
aad eheem of our feiow.crea,ures is deiira le
to every man, and the three claAes abov meo-
oned mua covet them more ardcntly in pro.
proportion 70 the obaacles which n1tu or
education has thrown in their way, fl II de-
liver few rules by which not only perfon Of
real meri. m ~ thew him elf to advantage, bur
high reputation. give them with pcreG con-
6denoe, b.caufe I could afir a probatcm to
| each dire6fioR and as old men love gofIiping
| lyle, lhall leg leave to adIrels my reader in
The lecond psrlon.
ut. Like Pythagoras, l begin with deGring
YOU, not indeed 70 reped, but q admire your
| leIt. This NUT be done cautiou1y, for fear of
| exiting cont mpt rh,refore your admiration
mutt be asdfaa, moderate in appearance and
| accompanied with proper degree of external
pomp and dignity. AS you are fuppo1ei to
/ know your1eif better than any other psrfon can,
| men will take you II your own price, if You
do not alarm their fef love BY excei1ive preten-
Gons and TO prevent this danger you mutt,
zdy Profeis ph lanthropy, and general
admiration Of your acquaintance. To alIit
you in this conrle it will be very uf full to
employ fome words in a new fnle. Thus, by
a man ofgreat parts, you will denote one who
| gives you good dinners; by Wit, you will mean
a hearty laugh at your friends expence or your
| own by univer!al bencvolence. benefits con
iered on yourIelf and BY good nature, the
mott perfect dullnels and inGpidity. Depend
IuPonit that this part Of your conduit is indl-
penibe and if your feelings cannot iubmt to
it, you mutt reign all hopes Of reputation. l
may ltrengthen my aderrion with Addfon's
authority: Z If you allow another man wit N
Giys he, :" he will al ow you Judgment" Re
verie the Propoftion, and i will equally hold.
Lafly Ifyour fituafon leads you to attach
| yourtelf TO party. you will have no trouble il
fupPortipg your principles 1t is enough if you
adopt the name Of the party, you need rot even
enquire into its opinions Especially if you are
man Of tender conlcie nee, and afraid OF find
ing any thing in them that may ihock your
feelings. But if It j. your int.geR To u I'M
partial, always admit the realonng of the com
Ptny yon may happen to Be in if you cannot
Prelerve this golden mean, take the accommo-
dating part, and above all eadeavour to con
/ vince them that Won think of ihan, ,,.;.L 60.