The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-22
INITIATING OTHER men.
The Conduct, Speech or Writings Of
Conspicuous Persons Have
Great Influence.
Emperor William l., the Iron Chan
cellor Boulanger and Depew
as Examples.
Everybody About Col. IngersolPs Ohce
Partake of the characteristics of the
Great Infidel.

GAteQ. whether tLo ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS "N1>AA
distinguish him from the rest OF the world
are meritorious or not, says the New YORK
Sun. The influence of the conduct. speech.
or writings Of conspicuous man are sure
to be felt. The same philosopher has also
observed that when a man is Influenced by
another he initiates him, consciously or un
consciously. in some striking detail of his
personal appearance. He may copy the cut
Of his beard. or the twist of his moustache.
or the style of his clothes, or number of
other things If many persons admire one
man they may be influenced differently.
Each NAV copy different characteristic.
If some particularly striking character
istic. however, be prominent enough to
dwarf all others, it is probable that
imitators will copy that, not observing any
other. Kaiser Wilhelm, grandfather Of the
present emperor, had his beard trimmed in
q peculiar style, the mutton-chop whiskers
and moustache being larger than those
usually worn. Probably several hundred
thousand Germans in various parts of the
world wore exactly the same style Of beard.
In fact, the ordinary German felt intensely
hapuy If he could cultivate such beard.
He went into ecstasies if anybody noticed q
resemblance between his facial appearance
and that of the emperor. No doubt the Iron
Chancellor had thousands OF lmitators;
The late Bayard Taylor recognized the
initiative dispo sition of men in his descrip-
ton OF his visit to California in the days of
49, TAYLOR was a passenger on board
sailing vessel which bore many gold hunt
ers from the lsthmus of Panama to the
Golden Gate. He, in common with most
of the passengers, was strongly impressed
by the appearance and actions of taciturn
man who bore striking facial resemblance
TO the first Napoleon. The man had evil
IDENTIFY studied the portraits of the illus
trious Frenchman. At certain hour every
day he walked to the bows of the vessel and
looked steadfastly across the sea, distinctly
recalling the painting of Napoleon on his
vay to St. Helena. HIS cloak was wrapped
about him, his arms were folded, his brows
we're knit, and his entire attitude betokened
complete absorption in reyerie. He was
generally addressed as Napoleon.
The Boulanger beard is another charac-
teristic feature. The valiant Frenchman
NAV have copied his beard from the illus
trious King Henry, but it was Boulanger's
prominence and not King Henry's that in
duced men to copy the beard.
But to come nearer home, it would be in
teresting to know how many thousands of
persons are initiating personal character
nent American said he believed there are
10000 Americans, many of whom have
never seen Mr.. Depew, attempting to imi-
tate his facility of speech. Unquestionably
three-quarters of the would-be orators
strive with every effort to acquire his inter
esting, ready, keen address.
Mr.. Depew. while ready to speak upon
the subject generally. was not DESTROYS of
referring to himself particularly. Il
am quite convinced" he said, ''of tho
correctness of the proposition. I have
observed it myself frequently. l know,
<oe syNcf
many imitators Of Rufus Choate. As you
will remember, this brilliant orator had
some peculiar tricks of action, which were
hardly noticed by his listeners in their adj
lniration of his eloquence; but when the
many would-be orators initiated him they
old not detract from his oratory because of
its excellence, but when the mental matter
was poor the athletic exhibition only made
the imitator ridiculous. There were hun
dreds and thousands of men, undoubtedly,
who were influenced by Henry Ward
characteristics and initiated his personal
appearance would be hard to say; l have no
doubt that many did. Men unconsciously
acquire little tricks of speech or action
which originated with somebody else.''
President Arthur originated u style in
ceedingly popular. The late president, be-
ing a man of natural cheerfulness and
buoyancy of mind, unconsciously revealed
his animal spirits by gracefully twirling his
cane with nimble fingers. Within a very
short time after this characteristic style de-
veloped hundreds of his admirers paraded
the streets twirling their canes in imitation
of his method.
The visitor to the law Office OF Frederic r.
Coudert will be struck at once by the inf1u.
ence of his example. Among the legal fra
ternity, at least that portion which opposes
him, Mr.. Coudert has acquired the reputa-
ton for the most biting and searching sar-
casm; among those persons who come into
social relations with him be has the reputa-
ton of being the most polite and courteous
man in New York. No matter how busy he
may be. the visitor to his Office is received
with courtesy and politeness that 10 Gs
surprising as it is gratifying. But not less
is the attitude of every employe in his
Offices. The influence of his example has
moulded all his assistants, even down to
the office boy, to wonderful degree.
The visitor to Col. Ingersoll's office is i'm,
pressed by the fact that the employees there
are unlike those in any other office. The
Coloners spirit seems to pervade the entire
establishment. The assistants approach
the visitor in frank, straightforward man
her that makes him feel comfortable al
once. The blunt way of speaking is
perfect imitation of the Coloners owl
manner.
Concerning this subiect careful observe
remarked: In my opinion this imitation
of personal characteristics is the outprowtl
OF natural inclination, Unborn in almos
every individual, to begin a great wor
with comparatively insignificant step.
believe that out of ten men ambitious
write great novel, nine will invariabl
begin by writing the title. Of those min
probably eight will never get any furthe
1t Is exactly the same with tue average me
who attempt to emulate the examples {
great men. They copy the little thing
among which are the personal mannerism
and characteristics first, because they al
comparatively easy. Very few of them q,
any Iurther, because every onward step I
quires ability and industry. Out of tt
men who desire to be like Mr.. Depew, pro-
ably one will in some measure succeed.
speak now OF ten men selected at randor
an possessed of a burning desire to emula
the object OF their admiration. OF the OF
e nine doubt that eight will have eth
the ability or persistency to % bsyond 4
limitation of some striking mannerism. It
ninth may advance in some degree, b
probably not very far
ANY number of instances could be pr
eented as illustrative of the desire to in
tate, but they all tend to the same ppil
VI number of public men questioned
20 itS trothfulness not one gave dissel
ing opinion; and while only a few vor
give illustrations all admitted that Il
oAdIeoogpized it frequently.
Winter Excursions.
Southern tourists are already going
warmer climes-Florida. and all south,