The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-29
INITIATING THE GREAT.
Tho Tendency Among Men to Emulate
~ The!r Supcrlorn.

SoAoe philosopher has observed that
Inc exceptional man is pretty sure to be
initiated, whether the characteristics
wnich distinguish him from the rest OF
inc world arc meritorious or not. Thu
Annuence OF the conduct speech or
y winnings of conspicuous man nre sure
70 DC felt. The Same philosopher, says
tne New York Sun, has also observed
tnat when man is influenced by nn-
other he initiates him, consciously or
unconsciously, in some striking detail
OF his personal appearance. IIe may
copy the cut of his board, or tho twist
OF his mustache, or the style Of his
clothes, or number of other things. If
many persons admire ono man they may
be influenced differently. Each may copy
different characteristics If some par-
ticularly striking characteristic, how
ever, be prominent enough to dwnrf all
Others, 1t is probable TINT imitators will
copy that, not observing any other.
Aaiscr Wilhelm, grandfather of the
present Emperor, had his beard trimmed
In peculiar style, the mutton-chop
whtskers and mustache being larger
than those usually worn. Probably
several hundred thousand Germans in
various parts Of tho world wore exactly
the same style of board. In fact, the
ordinary German felt intensely happy
II he could cultivate such beard He
went into ecstacies If somebody noticed
q resemblance between his facial ap-
.pearancc and TINT of the Emperor. No
doubt the Iron Chancellor hnd thou
sands Of imitators.
The late Bayard Taylor recognized
tho initiative disposition Of men in his
description of his visit to California in
the days Of 40. Taylor was passenger
on board sailing vessel which bore
many gold hunters from the Isthmus of
Penamn to the Golden Gntc. lie, in
common with most of tho other passen-
gers, was strongly impressed by the ap-
pearance and actions Of taciturn man
who bore striking facinl resemblance
to the first Napoleon Tho man had
evidently studied the portraits of the IL
lustrious Frcnchmnn. At ccrtoin hour
every day he walked to tho bows of tho
vessel and looked stoadfnstly across the
sea, distinctly recalling the painting of
Napoleon on his way to ST Helena
His clonk was wrapped about him, his
arms wore folded, his brows wcro knit,
and his entire attitude botokcncd com
2lcte absorption in revcric. IIo WIS
generally addressed as Napoleon
The Doulangcr beard is another char
acteristic feature. Tho valiant Frcnch-
man may have copied his board from
the illustyious King Henry, but it was
Boulanger's prominence and not King
Henry's that induced men to copy tho
beard.
But to come nearer home, it would be
interesting to know how many thou
sands Of persons arc initiating personal
characteristics of Chauncey NJ. Depcsv.
prominent American said TINT he bc-
Hevcd thsre IRE ten Thousand Amerl
cans many of whom have mover seen
MIR. Dcpcw, attempting to initiate his
facility Of speech Unqucstionnbly
threc-quarters of the would-bo orators
strive with every effort TO acquire his
interesting, ready, keen address
MIR. Depcw, while ready to speak
upon the subject generally, was not do
sirous of referring to himself particu-
Larry. ~ am quito convinced" he said,
'Sof tho correctness of the proposition.
have observed it myself frequently. I
know, for instance, that there wero
many imitators of Rufus Chontc. AS
you will remember, this brilliant orntor
had some peculiar tricks of action,
which were hardly noticed by his lis
teners In their admiration Of his elo-
quencc; but when the many would-be
orators initiated him they became
ridiculous. His style Of gymnastics did
not detract from his oratory bc-
cause of its excellence, but when
the mental matter was poor tho athletic
exhibition only made tho imitator ridic-
ulous. There were hundreds and thou
sands of men, undoubtedly, who wero
influenced by Henry Ward Beechcr.
How many copied his personal charnc-
teristics and initiated his personal ap-
pearanco would be hard to say; havo
no doubt that many did. Men uncon-
sciously acquire little tricks of speech
or action which originated with some
body else"
President Arthur originated style in
carrying the cane which for time was
exceedingly popular. The late Prcsi-
dent, being man of natural cheerful
ness and buoyancy of mind, uncon-
sciously revealed his animal spirits by
gracefully twirling his cane with MIN
bic fingers Within very short time
after this characteristic style developed
hundreds of his admirers paradcd tho
streets twirling their canes in imita-
ton of his method.
Concerning this subject careful OBJ
server remarked: In my opinion this
imitation of personal characteristics is
the outgrowth of natural inclination.
Unborn in almost every Individual, to
begin great work with a compare
lively insignificant step. believe that
out of ten men ambitious to write q
great novel, nine will invariably begin