Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-01-14
IMITATINo -THE oREAT.
The Tendency Among Men to Emulate
 Their SuperiorS.

Some philosopher has observed that the exceptional man is pretty sure to be initiated, whether the characteristics which distinguish him from the rest of the world are meritorious or not. The influence of the conduct, speech or writings of a conspicuous man are sure to be felt. The same philosopher, says the New York Sun, has also observed that when a man is influenced by an- other he initiates him, consciously or unconsciously, in some striking detail of his personal appearance. He may copy the cut of his beard, or the twist of his mustache, or the style of his clothes, or Q number of other things. If many persons admire one man they may be influenced differently. Each may copy a different characteristic. If some par ticularly striking characteristics, how ever, 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 a peculiar style, the mutton-chop whisllers and mustache being larger than those usually worn. Probably several hundred thousand Germans in NdIlOuS ptlL o4 b1AO "OA40 "o1C C@AbSpAJ the same style of beard. In fact, the ordinary German felt intensely happy If he could cultivate such beard. He went into ecstacies if somebody noticed a resemblance between his facial ap- pearance and that of the Emperor. No doubt the Iron Chancellor had thou sands of imitators.
 The late Bayard Taylor recognized the initiative disposition of men in his description of his visit to California in the days of 40. Taylor was a passenger on board a sailing vessel which bore many gold hunters from the Isthmus of Panama to the Golden Gate. He, in common with most of the other passen- gers, was strongly impressed by the ap- pearance and actions of taciturn man who bore a striking facial resemblance to the first Napoleon. The man had evidently studied the portraits of the n- lustrious 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 way to St. Helena. His cloak was wrapped about him, his arms were folded, his brows were knit, and his entire attitude betolened com plete absorption in reverie. He was generally addressed as Napoleon.
 The Boulanger beard is another char acteristic feature. The valiant French man may have copied his beard from the illustrious King Henry, but it was Boulanger's prominence and not King Henry's that induced men to copy the beard.
 But to come nearer home, 1t would be interesting to know how many thou sands of persons are initiating personal characteristics of Chauncey NJ. Depew. A prominent American said that he be- lieved there are ten thousand Ameri- cans, many of whom have never seen Mir. Depew, attempting to initiate his facility of speech. Unquestionab1y three-quarters of the would-be orators strive with every effort to acquire his interesting, ready, keen address.
 MT. Depew, while ready to speak upon the subject generally, was not de- strous of referring to himself particu- larly. II am quite convinced" he said, ''of the correctness of the proposition. have observed 1t myself frequently. I know, for instance, that there were many imitators of Rufus Choate. As you will remember, this brilliant orator had some peculiar tricks of action, which were hardly noticed by his lis toners in their admiration of his elo- quence; but when the many would-be orators initiated him they became ridiculous. His style of gymnastics did not detract from his oratory be- cause of its excellence, but whom the mental matter was poor the athletic exhibition only made the imitator ridic- ulous. There were hundreds and thou sands of men, undoubtedly, who were influenced by Henry Ward Beecher. How many copied his personal charao- teristics and initiated his personal ap- pearance would be hard to say; have 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 Presi- dent, being man of natural cheerful ness and buoyancy of mind, uncon- sciously revealed his animal spirits by gracefully twirling his cane with nim- ble fingers. Within a very short time after this characteristic style developed hundreds of his admirers paraded the streets twirling their canes in imita- ton of his method.
 Concerning this subject careful ob- server remarked: ''In my opinion this imitation of personal characteristics is the outgrowth of a natural inclination, inborn in almost every individual, to begin a great work with a compara- -s. n out of ten men ambitious to write a great novel, nine will invariably begin by writing the title. Of those nine probably eight will never get any far ther. It is exactly the same with the average men who attempt to emulate the examples of great men. They copy the little things, among which are the personal mannerisms and character istsae first, because they are compare lively easy. Very few of them get any further, because every onward step re- quires ability and industry. Out of ten men who desire to be like MT. Depew,