The St. Johns herald., 1892-08-18
POPULARITY.
Apparently Universal Desire Among HTeI
 to Obtain 1t.

2IildECHCAJ CIlfeI1s1a SSfsIEc NIGH
 to Obtain 1t.
 Popularity, though founded on vir- tue, has it's sEperstructure built quite as often of follies and slns as of merits The desire for it is so universal that we all seek to obtain it, whether we are saints or sinners, or little of both, Pride and humility, power and weak ness, selfshness and self-sacrifice ar all rewarded by popularity in forms different as the method by which 1t i3s been gained. The wish to obtain t approbation and affection of others perfectly natural and right, but, liisi many another innocent and <beautifus flower, when allowed to run to seed ant spread itself all over the field Of oul character, it's roots take up the place intended for more valuable growtas, and poor crop is the result, says 2 writer in Far and Near.
 We are speaking of the longing for popularity, not of that deeper, rioro spiritual craving for love. Love in its true sense is the greatest earthly bless ing we can desire or deserve, and $ 2i ways stimulus to the best parts of ouI natures. It is at once orr strength in action and our rest, our most clcvat;1g lesson and our most perfect reward It is the one guide from earth to Heav- en, for
 There is no human love-'tis all divine,
 Earth's dearest leads us sutly to His shrine.
 But popularity and love are not SYNONYMOUS, although, perhaps in some future ideal condition Of humaE affairs they may be. On the whole, though, i; would not be at all an ideal state fci no ne of us care to be friends, in t!2c fullest sense, with everyone whom orc meets, while one does long to be popu- lar, that is to be pleasing. sympathetic and agreeable to everybody, without resigning that closer relationship with our chosen ones. Friendly to all, anG real friends with few, loving to all, and lover to few, this is what would be mos, satisfactory to us.
 The surest road to popularity is com monly supposed to be tact but there i, another quality without which we be lieve no popularity to be lasting, and that is sincerity. Tact, at it's best, is of course, only the good manners C. unselfshness, the polished courtesy which that virtue is sometimes able to assume in order to put us at our ease iD her rather unfamiliar presence. Chil 6ren know their friends we say, and dogs readily find their way to the feet of those who are sure to welcome them
 In some degree we all have the same instinct, and good acting cannot cheat us forever. We are attracted at first by the outside, by good looks and q sweet voice, and then the tactful, sym pathetic manner appeals to Us strongly. but in the end the true, sincere nature is the one to which we turn, and upon which we learn to depend.
 That is the secret of real popularity the reliableress that comes from sin cerity. We say ot woman: ''She is very charming, but one never knows where to find her," but of another. ''She can always be trusted, and is al ways the same to u3." A stranger meet ing Q very popular woE2an for the first time, asked afGerward: What is the reason that So many people seem t. care for her? What is the cause of her popularity? You say she has kind heart, but that is not enough, and she is neither beautiful nor clever and has but little grace of manner" After long thought this answer was given: "SlIe is perfectly sincere to everyone, and all who know her feel that they can trust her absolutely"