The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-08-27
pQPTEAR PEOPLE.

the fact that q man Is popular goes
more than half way to establish the
conclusion that he is good, honest,
reliable man. He is so popular be-
ing phrase that covers a multitude
of faults and weaknesses, and in the
minds ef many settles the question of
worth.
Jones heard cynical man inquire
of another concerning third party
with whom he was meditating bus
mess transaction. He is safe, per-
fecflE SAFE z was the declaration, 'sand
81 pDpaIarsH aThen I will not trust
him, was the rejoinder. 81 have no
faith in popular men, Certainly in
this case his Judgment proved correct.
Popular people are generally Timber.
They bend here, and yield there they
have no backbone. They have an IN
vlHcible repugnanee to that little mon
osyllabIe no-consider it sharp, blunt
abrupt. They are more courteous and
sHave in their intercourse with their
felioW-creatures, and will not wound
their Eelf-l0ve with such positive nee
cations. They laugh and dissent with
3 shake of the head, and fhard pressed
and it is some favor that is wanted,
turn away with "We will see about il"
orssCaIl again, or wait until to-
morrow. amy thing to put the person
off and free themselves for the mo-
ment. a popular man hardly ever in
his life utters good, honest, hearty,
stout, downright no. He meets you
with outstretched hand, inquiries for
your family and yourself in manner
that convinces yOn he is impressed
with their and your welfare. He slaps
you on the shoulder, speaks confiden-
ti4lIy to you, mods knowingly, and
leaves You impressed with the idea
that he is d very fine man, and you
stand high in his estimation. He con-
tinues always to make you pleased
with yourself, the consequence of
which is you are pleased with him.
Perhaps at parting he tells you good
story or joke, and you go ON your
way laughing to impart it to the next
friend you meet, with ssWhat eapi-
tai fellow that - is. p
sfWelI, what is the harm in this?"
You ask. None, if you do not make
this mistake of supposing that being
a capital fellow he is consequently
strong, reliable person. The worldly
wise will tell you that strong, reliable
men are seldom popular men. They
are men of purpose, opinion, action
in sympathy with, the sudviter an
mod0 which characterizes the man
bent on pleasing in general. Take,
for example, the popular men and
women of society-the beau, the belle,
the married woman,
The popular belle is pretty, has
pleasing manners, dresses we'll, talks
well, says pleasant things. She has
the tact to make every man believe
he is first and foremost in her regards.
She receives all the attention she de-
siress goes everywhere, sees every
thing-at the expense of her gentle
men friends, as of course she should
and is considered one of the finest,
incest, most delightful of women, but
does she come up to the standard of
Womanhood you have enshrined in
your heart, as typical of she who is to
be your wife Is there not a some
thing q little coarse connected with
this popularity and belIehood-some-
thing from which you shrink?
And the popular beau, what is he ?
gentlemanly, polite, dressy, full of
pleasant batteries and small talk, new
er forgets any little attention, dances
the German, is always on hand for an
entertainment, and indispensable as
best man at the marriages of his
friends has considerable sense, may
be proper business man is called
good fellow, but own it, you feel dis
posed to smile at him. He does not
enbody the idea of vigorous, earnest
manhood to you. He is not the real
ization of a Woman's dream makes a
delightful beau, but is not chosen for
q husband. He is popular though,an
ax7npsu 1aHu arana 10 nj of 4
just so with the married woman,
only her opportunities are greater.
She can entertain people, and she can
use them after they are entertained.
No matterif they do not know they
are used, what is the difference?
Women naturally are more anxious
to please than men, have more love of
appreciation, and love of appreciation
lies at the bottom of this thirst for
popularity. Society women, too, have
more time to devote TO such things.
There is rivalry in it, and they cleo
tioneer for an admirer as man does
for a vote, with an Office for an object.
Aw0man whose aim is to enjoy the
favor of the multitude, can no more
be true woman than she can be a
good Christian.
Why, you say, taking popularity as
in the opinion OF great part of the |
world, it is the seal of appreciation. |
There are popular preachers.
That is all very true; but populari-
ty in that application is used in lit |
tie different sense, however; popular
preachers are not always the most
evangelical preachers, nor are they
those who do the most good in the
world; besides, popular preachers are
not all popular men. / have in my
memory q noted case. of a popular
preacher who drew crowds whenever
he held forth, SO that he could scarcely
gain accessatO his pulpit, yet was he
very far from being one in whom his
feiloW-men had confidence or were
prepared to follow. His voice, his
eloqueDce, his beautiful imagery af-
fected their intellects and swayed
their fancy they looked upon him as
one who pointed to heaven, but failed
to lead the way.
It is 0ften the case that the very
popularity of ministers of the gospel
draws suspicion on themselves and ON
their cause.
We do not mean TO say that it is
Just, only that it is true. A man has
q right TO study to present the cause
he loves, and himself as the advocate |
of that cause TO those who are sup
posed not to love it and are in oppo-
sition to it-in its most attractive |
light, using all his powers ofeloquence
in a legitimate way to do so. But the t
temptation to meritorious action in
this matter of popularity is SO great /
that a large number of people are +
slow to believe in the perfect good /
faith of those who have gained it eyen
by righteous means.
Many people confuse eminence and
popularity. In their minds they are
Synonymous terms, whereas, in reali-
ty they are almost in opposition. To-
be eminent is to occupy an exalted
position among men-to be popular,