Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-12-26
HARMLESS IMPoSToRS.
Men and Women Who Have n Desire ia
Shine In Society.


Men and Women Who Have n Desire to
Shine In Society.
They are harmless people, those who
are most eager to be thought literary
geniases when they are not; those who
are DESTROYS Of being thought wealthy
when they are not True greatness Is
entirely modest. The grandest men
are simplest and least formal in their
manners and speech. A very common
place and narrow-minded woman once
gained most enviable reputation for
Intelligence and scholarship by simply
carrying about with her well-worn
COPY of''Sartor Resartus" Even some OF
her intimate friends were Influenced in
their estimate Of her by her ostentatious
devotion to this great work, until one OF
them suggested that, If the fair but
rather limited philosopher had the
slightest idea what she was reading
about she would not have touched
page of Carlyle with the tongs. This
woman was fraud, though thorough
" unconscious one She thought and
said she liked Carlyle, while what she
really enjoyed was her two-penny re-
putation as woman OF more than ave-
rage culture.
There are great many more or these
accidental reputation than society at
large suspects, and it is an unfortunate
certainty that very small talent, com
bined with good commercial instinct
for making the most of it, will take
man further than the most magniticent
genius which lacks or despises the ad-
vertising instinct. Any man who knows
Just little more OF entomology, for
instance, than his neighbors writes
paper 70 two for a scientific period
ical, and by judiciously CT lating
copies among his Friends. ac-
euires very pretty though small
distinction in this speciality. Now,
nothing is easier than to make large
reputation out Of small one. 1t is not
necessary to add any further knowledge,
but simply to spread the news OF what
has already been achieved. Every man
or woman who meets "Mr. Blank, the
great scientist" at afternoon tea adds
more to the popular estimate OF his
abilities than would the discovery OF
new species, since 1t Is one Of our pet
delusions that the geese we know are as
fine birds as the swans we haven't met
A certain millionaire answered an in
uuiry as to the art Of accommodating
riches with the remark that it was 1.-The
easiest thing in the world after the first
million" The multitude who had been
led to expect that Cresus would give
them a valuable Tip" turned sadly back
to their daily toll. They felt like the
man who, when he was offered soft crabs
to go fishing with, said that he guessed
he'd rather stay home and cook the bait.
A fortune which could only be angled
for with million strikes the average
ambition as hardly worth trial. How
ever, this advice, so superfluous in the
connection which called it forth is an
excellent hint for all who would like to
experience the agreeable sensation OF
having greatness thrust upon them
The first million assures the fortune to
the right man. So the first introduction
as 1.-The great Mr.. -" or the hrst
newspaper mention as a rising" some
body is the drop of suds which assures
the bubble reputation to any one who
can blow it to the proper size.-kate
Fields Washington.