Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-01-22
Gratuitous Fame,
from The WaUerley Progress, by j. L.
LODGE, d. D., Editor.]

''Some men are born great some achieve
greatness and some have greatness thrust
upon them" So profound a student of hui
man nature, so skilled a philosopher and in
terpreter of the deepest virtues, could employ
in such connection the word "great" only 10
the sense of famous, except in the second
clause of the quotation. The fact of fortu-
nate birth can be despised only by the I'M
thinking or the unfortunate. To despise its
advantages is to insult the wisdom and scorn
the benevolence OF Providence. The accepted
and irrefutabls doctrine of the transmission
of nature and disposition from progenitor to
offspring includes consequences of the gravest
kind, beng nearly equivalent TO unfailing
prophecy OF either future good or evil. From
intellectual ancestry is expected continuation
and increase of mental capacity and the ex-
pectation rarely meets disappointment; so
rarely that the exception excites astonish-
ment. The rule Of progress is general. ex-
cept in matters spiritual, where grace is not a
blessing Inherited, but gift received with
secret purposes limited to the individual
Nations advance from barbarism to civiliza-
ton, 10 enlightenment, 10 liberty, to culture,
to political and moral influence, through sue
cessiye and connected stages. Nor is it pos
sibe to confne the beneficial results TO the
land which was first in the march ofimprove-
luCul Dul IL Cdu never lOst tue ulRultJ huu
importance and virtue of its originality
What is lost, obviously wanting in another,
may serve 10 show what is his gain who
starts with the impetus of foregoing genera
tons. Gratitude would seem to be in this
case more proper than boasting because, in
the majority Of instances it is plain that had
conditions been reversed, results would have
vindcated the present loser, and the step-son
Of fortune put to shame her elected favorite.
Some men find out later that their fortune
was half made at the hour of birth they are
at the outset in full possession of distin-
guished name, of an exalted position in So
cety, of talents which have long dignihed
and made prominent their family, and all
this is contributory in an Unreasonable de-
gree 10 their own success and honor through
life. speak not OF wealth inherited, be-
cause mere money is too mean NATTER
Outspoken ridicule is well and prohtably
added to natural scorn OF char acters who pre-
tend to aristocratc standing on the sole
ground of fortunes either inherited or accum-
ulated These snobs, especially the American
variety, are less endurable than any other
class of fools. Compared to them, every other
kind are Solomons and Solons. II is certain
that many men the world worships as sue
cessfu would have been miserable failures
had they been obliged to commence life in
poverty.
The honor lies in the achievement Of great
ness especially IL obstacles of a serious and
stubborn nature have been overcome. The
instinct of humanity yields its praises, its
honors and its gifts to such as have demon
strated their ability to dispense with the
worlds appreciation or assistance. With the
pure and just recognition and laudation OF
genuine merit comes timely and freely. If il
came not freely it would come perforce, for
the kipgly man asks no favors. There's in
him stuff that puts him 10 these ends
For, being not propped by ancestry, (whose
grace
Chalks successor their way, nor calPd upon
For high ieals done TO the crown neither
allied
To eminent assistance, but spider like,
Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way.
Only in loose way of speaking can the
poet s last assertion be accepted. Strict con-
struction, just definition, compels absolut e
negation. A greatness that is forced upon u
man is extreme lttleness. Greatness consists
in thinking and doing. The fires of noble
mind are lighted from heaven. They have no
connection with the phosphorus-lights that
satisfy and please natures OF meaner mold -
The intermeddling Offices of parasites are in
toerable. II countenanced they would utter
ly destroy the really great in any man. Roy
atty is in blood and gifts. Mere fame is I'M
satisfying. 1t is often empty, unreal, with
GU foundation in truth or reason. mere
bubble inflated with the breath Of foolish
mortals. Wise men rightly despise the ac-
CARNATIONS of the vulgar. They understand
the cost of such clamor. Often what is called
fame is the product of prejudice, OF false
pride of nationality, of a violent hatred OF
opinions which raises to the place Of an idol
the representative of their opposites. 1t only
requires dozen fools, six flatterers, and a
printing press to make fame that will endure
for-several years. glance into the news
papers, some religious ones included, will
convince the most skeptical.
Que OF the most noted examples of such
gratuitous fame is that Of Wellington, the pu-
tative hero of that great battle OF June 10,
1915, strangely enough called OF Waterloo,
since the conflict occurred not there, but on
the plateau Of Mont 81. Jean. 1t is not pos
sible, finally, to detract from the honor due
anv meritorious and skilled actor ia affairs OF
moment; nor is the wish here present to shade
the reuown of the Iron Duke; but an ade-
quate understanding of the plan of battle,
the movements of the opposed forces on the
field, and a careful and unprejudiced compar-
ison of the accounts of q number Of histori-
ans. will necessitate the conclusion that in
making the general of the allies the hero oil
| Mont st. Jean greatness is thrust upon him
| The transactions of that memorable day form
an enigma whose key might be ascertained il
rightly sought. There were present three
mighty agents and directors-Napoleon, Wei
| lington, ana God. A creditable authority
declares, in addition, that 1t was not battle
of generals at all, but of soldiers. Half the
truth without doubt, but only half, of which
moiety no dscredit is here assumed to the
victorious general. The other and more m
| portant half is that it was contest between
sublime human genius and what careless men
| call "chance," but to which we give its truer
name with the catastrophe obscured in ne
cessary mystery. Some have sought its ex-
PLANTATION through atiributing to Napoleon a
loss of will power and energy superinduced
| by physical decay. Cannot declared that he
was so changed that be did not recognize
him The Emperor, it is thought, was much
weaker man than the general and Liberator.
The history OF the Hundred Days, it is be-
lieved, evidenced decline OF genius and
temporary incapacity. Those who wish are
at liberty TO believe this. But certain facts
seem clearly to prove that the defeat was oc-
casioned by causes absolutely beyond the con-
troll of the French general.
Napoleon was an artillery officer, and all
his battle plans depended primarily upon the
crushing force OF projectiles. The uninterrupt'
ed series of startling victories for fifteen years
displayed his genius in the adoption Of this
method Of breaking lines and decimating regi.
ments. The action at Mont 81. Jean was to
have begun at 6 A. NJ but it rained on the
night of the l7th-lSth, and the cannon could
not be used till ll:30. The battle would have
been won three hours before the Prussians
came up Who won the battle, Wellington
or Desliny2
Before the terrible charges Of the cuiras-
siers, led by Ney, Napoleon had surveyed the
| ground, but on account Of the undulationi
could not see the gulch or hollow road o.
Ohain, washed by torrents to great depths
and to width of twelve fset. Inquiry o
Lacoste, the guide, received as answer thai
the way was clear. Only when one-third o.
Dubois brigade had tumbled into and filled
up this horrid ditch could the remaining
squadrous reach and attack the English
squares and the formidable masked battery
10 their front. Prodiges of valor did they
! rarfornn and WalIinotnn n nne mnmp he