Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-08-28
POPULARITY.

One Of the silliest and yet ole of the most COM
mon pursuits of our fellow mortals is the chase of
popularity. If young man finds that he can haran-
que a crowd for fifteen consecutive minutes, he
fancies that he combines the elements of popularity,
and that with little well directed effort he can
place himself in prominent position, He attempts
this and in nine out Of ten, might be ex-
pected, fails.
His failure is attributable to the fact that he seeks
popularity. Those who seek it, seldom or never
find it, When it comes it comes upbidden. It is a
result the part of the public of their perception
of qualities in which make him useful and
available. Qualities perhaps, of which the possessor
possesses not the consciousness, thus proving that
the qualities are natural to and sit easily upon him.
and are not obtruded upon his fellows for the pur
pose of making show.
The popular is not one who assumes pa
tronizing air towards the people, nor one who
obseuuiousy courts their favor The former of these
is condemned, the latter is despised. 1t is neither
the mark of popularity, nor the way to gain 1t, to
obtrude oneself into meetings, and Constantly insist
upon talking The aspirant for popularity, must
not absent himself from his fellow citizens when his
presence and voice are needed, nor should he make
his displays unless proper occasion offers. An
either side will injure his standing with the
people, materially.
Popularity comes not from assumed interest in the
welfare of he people. 1t arises only from heartfelt
sympathy, which shows itself involuntariy in what
a man says and does. No counterfeit OF this
stand the scrutiny of the public The public know
who their friends and at the proper time and in
the proper manner, they sure TO show their dis
cerIment. An assumption of qualities which one
does not possess, and of interest which does
not feel, only deceives him who assumes them. He
may wonder why arrival is accepted while he is pass
ed by and may complain that the public do not ap-
preciate him. but proper analysis viii discover to
himself the personal defects upon which the verdict
of the public has been rendered against him.
There is a vast amount of seeming among polti-
ticians; but it is not apt to take with the public
The public demand that claimant for their atten-
ton shall be, not seem. They can detect hypocricy
and assumption at once, and they are by no means
backward in msnifesting their opinion. The man of
generous aims and magnanimOus disposition is al
Us honored and appreciated He who only as
sumes these qualities will involuntarly betray him
self at every step.
For this reason multitudes are constantly grumb-
ling because their merits overlooked, and con-
stantly decaim about the ingratitude of constituent
cies. The TACT, however, is, that constituencies
know the aspiranls for their favor better than those
aspirants know themselves. They have idea of
being cheated because those who desire their sup
port, are self deceived. Knowing true worth from
selfconceit, they distribute their favors with an
impartial hand, and while the noble and generous
ere elevated to places of trust, schemers are
allowed to remain the level which they have made
for themselves.
The young, who aspire to become the recipients
of public favor, have only to make themselves
full to their fellows and to put away all sinister
tives. Ii they heartily act upon this principle,
they may be that in the long they will not
be neglected. On the other hand, if they attempt
to make of the community for stepping stones to
personal ambition they will be pretty sure to fail
in their endeavors. The public will never submit
to be made such OF, and he who attempts it may
set down his defeat as certain.-BOStOH Herald