Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-11-19

The prominent ciiizen"-that In
dividual Of negative virtues, so mind
fui OF his own personality on public
occasions; whose main object Of life
is TO ride In the wake OF popular
characters, or 10 ofiiciate as vice
president At every local assembly, or
20 perch, like an owl, solemn and
dull, upon the prov of every enter
prise set going In The community Of
which he Is simply an ornamental
member-should be suppressed. He
Is an ancient and honorable hum
bug. The objection 10 him Is decid-
eddy serious. He stands In the way
of more useful. but less presumptuous
men. II Is not putting il too strong.
~ 10 say that people living at dis
lance from any OF the great cities,
obtain the idea from the papers of
those cities that about score OF fam
lilies In each comprise all there may
be OF social responsibility, culture
wealth, intelligence, and solidity in
them. These persenages figure con-
spicuously in watering place gossip,
In the personal columns of home
papers, and form part of the report
er's stock in.trade. When the stran.
ger visits any one of the cities refer
red 10, he Is astonished to find upon
the frents of great, Substantial, pros
provisioning mercantile houses
aud manufactures signs bearing
names which he has never seen Ia the
papers OF the town, and he naturally
wonders II their owners are regarded
as OF no especial account TO the city.
lie then inquiries as 10 those "promi-
ncnt citizens" only TO find out that
they have never done anything In
particular 10 shed glory upon the
city, that the wealth they may pos
sess Is employed simply for their
own comfort. and that, while their
names are 50 frequently observed id
lists VI reception committees and
among the notable people present, /"
they rarely lead Ia charity subscrip-
lions. His amazement, thereupon,
naturally grows 10 see the very men
who seem 10 own the great factories
and mercantile houses--for instance.
down in that wholesale quarter where
everything Is SO solemn, so substan.
tial and so formidable looking
should be eatirely disregarded. Yer
lily he must speedily reach the conclu.
sion hal the substantial citizen does
not belong To the detachable prumi.
nenf coterie, and his conclusion would
be in line with absolute truth. The
prominent citizen" has no mission
upon earth except TO maintain his
own nolorieiy rs such. and he should
therefore be easily dispensed with.
His presence is Encouragement
the young aud ambitious men Of his
community who are eager for oppor.
tunities To do something for the pub.
lie good He Is constantly seeking
and getting the best seat In the boat.
10 the discomfort OF those who have
greater reason to be similarly favored
tie always secures the most desirable
positions on the stage of a convention
ball. though attending only to show
himself. while men deeply interested
are forced TO clamor for admission tn
-~~~N%s~N-NsNA4
remote corners of the galleries. He
is The most striking specimen Of the
American turf hunter. He Is always
sggressively selfish. He never pro.
poses anything. but always seeks to
get alongside OF those that do. He is
ever ready 10 sign petitions and TO
contribute his name. but be signs few
checks and contributes little money.
Altogether be Is an exerescence that
should be cut of. lie fattens TOO
much of the vitality of others. and
although be goes through life as
general make-weighs, his usefulness
10 that respect Is easily dispensahle.
for there are others who would be of
greater value even in that capacity.
Let these prominent cilixens~ be
sent into retirement Their ruom il
much more desirable thaa their com.
paay. New York Current