The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-10-07
MAKING A CRANK.
The Wisest of Men Have WhimS
and FoibleS.
HOW TO ExAGGERATE THEM.
Interesting Experiments Which People
May Try on Their Friends-Suecess-
full Results Obtained.
View York Press


crank in every man is proposition which
the Press. some little time ago. submitted
for the consideration of the curious. Those
Who have given the matter their attention
have reason to NOW have faith in what Just
then might have seemed but an idle con-
ceit
Each individual may not bear openly
upon him the earmarks which sometimes
distinguish the species, bnt under the coat
of every man there is material ample and
sufficient that needs only ludicious deyel-
ment Ii is, perhaps. not q fiattering as
surance, bat il is one of our inheritences,
and il is matter OF some little sslf-congrat-
ulation that all men are built upon the
same lines.
The crank is not necessarily man who
attracts undivided attention on the street.
whose actions are indications TO the public
that he is unbalanced somewhere. Such 3
one is to be pitied perhaps. He may be
peculiarly susceptible TO influence or the
victim of some mental disease, in which
latter case his misfortune puts him beyond
being the subject of ievity.
The true crank--one who furnishes half
the sermons and three-fourths of the
laughter of Efe-is the victim OF vanity
pure and simple, and the taxing of him for
quiet amusement is no assumption of ille
gal authority. That there are conspicuous.
over-towering crsnks who cause the gem
eral run OF nortals to hide their diminished
heads is but as natural as that there are
men who rise superior TO their fellows:
Every man has some vanity within, and
just in proportion to that vanity so are the
probabilities and the possibilities which he
possesses SIS crank.
1t IS now some months since the Press
told the story Oh probably as unique soci-
ETY. as ever was formed, and formed, too.
In one OF the quietest and quaintest of
places charming little town called Port
land. in the Canadian provinces. This So
oiety, strange as It may seem, was formed
expressly and solely for this purpose, and
was known to It's members as the Society
for the Development of Cranks. Its MEM
berShip was necessarily limited. 1t started
with three. The young man at its head
now, commercial traveller, had long fon-
died the theory as pet one. The organi-
zatlon was go from the start, and the
little town soon became too limited for
fair test OF the theory. L: was extended
gradually, and in no case did it prove
failure.
The theory itself is a simple one, and the
only means adopted by the crankmakers
are within the reach OF every one. They
are based on the premises that there is
weak spot in every man, and that properly
approached by people in whose friendship
he can have no doubt and whose genuine
ness he has had no reason to suspect. he
can be made crank on some particular
subject.
Their modus operandi was to take. say. a
young man who had a failing for telling
some story or for reading some particular
poem. 1t might be, and indeed it ordi-
Manly was his most wretched performance,
but the three would applaud il and shower
him with congratulations which he had no
reason to question. Probably on his way
home or within day or two, they would
come across him, apparently in the most
casual manner, and refer again to the story
or the reading. They would meet him
again possibly at the house of another
Trend, and again in some way the subject
OF the story or the reading would be
preached and he be requested to repeat it.
Naturally he wound consent and politeuess
would demand a respectful hearing. at the
close of which there would be a repetition
OF the congratulations.
III was simply wonderful the change that
was going on in that young mans mind.
The impression grew upon him insensiblv
that that particular story or reading was
MS strong point, and soon the difficulty
was TO restrain him from sprineing il on
all occasions.
Ane the same with young lady, They
would select for her TO sing absolutely the
song mat was the most unsuited TO her
pursue similar tactics until i'll the end. upon
the most hlmsy provocation. she would 90
10 the piano and perpetrate it. She had be-
come crank on that song through judicious
manipulation and at the home-like concerts
IN that good Old town many and MANY a
sensible citizen wondered why il was that
some OF the performers had selected such
uhsui;ed numbers in which to appear.
present member of their parliament,
VINO had gained some reputation as a seri
ous, almost prosy taiker, had the misfor-
tune one afternoon in the presence of one
Oh them 10 tell story absolutely without
point. Iae member OF the society prevailed
on nm TO repeat 1t at campaign speech
ne was TO make that evening He did 81
ana the tho led in laughter which OF course
spread, as all present were good. true party
men who would follow where anyone wouI5
lead That was the members first faIea
step. lie had walked into their parlo-
Ihey assured him that il was the hit Of hi
NE, ana throughout that campaign wbe--
ever he went, he told that story 10 the M.
Ter amazement Of everybody. When ne
found nobody laughing he set them down
as hard-heads, but in the end the very Oh
sNrdltv of its repetition cauSad s,,ol "a.
TO go round even before the story was Gov,
eiuaea that frequently the speaker laughed
himself IN its telling. which of conrse -
creased the mefrment. Some day he may
pe uhdeeeived' and he may cast his he.
trayers from his heart.
ihese are cited but as instances. M
men banded together had more oujet
amusement without causing pain 10 any
one The victim doesn't suffer. He fsai,
'he praise given him has been uer;iad -.
II would not have been bestowed for VI
not ihe leaders In the congratulated 80
friends Others may attempt 10 Iu,a hi.rs
10 common sense on his particular fa;iin..
ont ne rarely heeds them. Ii is thsi, 60.
ION only as against others, and in 81.
instances the Others are the ones Mr. -
praised him. and human nature Wilt
tne latter IN almost every case Thsi- -, -
mas seen open and above board as usn
whispered and confidential. and his -. .s
coinieis him 10 accept il.
IL Is not alone in a small town bo,..
that the idea can he sueeesefnij,. e "s'e',
cut 2en are the same eyerywha~a . ecu
women are Identical Naturally ~ oo.. Gnu
'h great city ike this il is we'll - sc
>s't'.e Tor any man or woman o-,lf-a.i,.