, 1880-12-05
PROMISING YOUNG MEN.
The Homage Paid TO Them by Society,
and How They Sometimes Dfxap-
point the Hopes of Their Admirers.

Perhaps the least vulgar type OF lion-hunt~
| ing Is the looking out for the germs of future
| greatness. a mali of established reputation
| In literature or art Is an object patent to
! everybody's view, and to pay him honor is
| merely to do what others are doing. The
young man who Is just beginning to attract
attention Is 4 less conspicuous object To
spy him out quickly implies a certain
amount OF individual discrimination, as we'll
| as access to the inner circle OF competent
| judges who are likely to set the future fash
! ion of appreciation. One does not wonder,
| then, that the young man of promise figures
| as an object Of special interest in refined
| society. The situation of such a promising
| young man seems at first sight purely
ellyiable one. To receive marks OF lively
| interest and respect ut all age when the
| thirst for recognition is ut its keenest; to set
| a number OF young women dreaming Of
| one's future glorious achievements, and =
| number of less fortunate young men bewail-
| ing their fate.-may well intoxicate 4 mind
! that is not wholly given up to ardent ambi-
| tion. This first taste Of the sweets of popl1-
| larity is among the few sensations OF a life
| time that are never forgotten Indeed, we
| may say that to realize ones own brilliant
through the eager hopes of a few warm adj
mircrs, Is the most delicious mode OF enjoy
ing success. Yet no form Of human Hiss is
quite free from taint of lmperfec:ion, and
even the youthful aSpirant who has suc-
| ceeded in awakening this romantic interest
in his future finds tliat there are drawbacks
| to his delight. 1t not. infreQuently happens
sa sy ti anntsgs Whs1e saers s very
little actual performance to build
upon, people easily get erroneous ideas
Of a mans special capabilities and
naninous, ai,d to sNbuit with good grace 70
| great deal Of foolish nisapprehenSion. In
most cases he must be content to be rccog-
niZc.f as tending to greatness, without cx-
pecting people to understand Wherein ex~
| self, The situation will sometimes be q try
| ing one. IT, for example, one of the newly
| formed circle of admirers puts the hero Of
! the moment through q long and searching
examination, under AT exaggerated idea of
his attainments and powers, he will very
| likely feel bured. and be ready to a,latherna-
| tie the nconyeniently- -importunate oues-
! toner for not having taken the trouble of as
| 1t Is, however, in relation to the future
that the position of 4 promising young
man is most beset with difficulties.
When society thus advances Its 1need OF
| apt to be somewhat exacttng- The young
writer or painter who has excited this lively
interest III his future must make up his
mind to be carefully watched. And the very
|
| his future reputation On trust will be apt to
be- equally unreasonable In their expecta-
tions- II we add to this that the first con-
ceptlons formed, as has been observed. are
very often quite erroneous and greatly ex-
aggerated, We set in what an awkward
| situation the promising young man is likely
to be placed. Even II he does advance ac-
cordlng to his own antlclpatlons, and fulfill
all the hopes that could reasonably be
grounded his first performances. he may
excite measure OF disappointment And
then it sometimes on inppens taat, through no
| fault OF his own, his young talent does not
! go on developing as it ought to.
nature proSoklnslY Graers Or shat IN tne iut-
should solnetimes be followed oy medlocrlty:
| The pledge given by ycollese,reputattoll, and
| even by the first essays IN public life, issome-
times illusory,-just as tile pledge given by
exceptional infantile ee1d0wnlents. And. when
this happens the promising young man may
| be said to be hardly used. lie is not only
| foredoomed to personal disappointment, but
DISAPPOINTMENT III tne WNo1e7 however, IL
Is prU0lDle LEat S0c1cty Is NOT uDJuSt III ue-
mallding 4 fuitillmeHt OF the early promise
which It has recognized and llonored Allow