The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1898-10-21
He likes Originality |

aThe Idler' has been talking.
and in talking he says: IF any
one should drive up and ask me
what quality in man or woman !
consider the most attractive on
the go in, I should answer right
of quick, "Originality.' Other
qualities may win our respect,
our admiration, and even our
love, as acquaintance ripens, out
there is nothing which will ar
rest our attention and attract US
at the start like. originality. 1t
is so refreshing to find some one
with new ideas and odd ways.
some one who is not made on the
regulation pattern and precisely
like his neighbors. 1t is good to
discover some one who dares to
think along new lines, and who
has the courage of his con-
victions. We are to apt to be
like a flock of sheep, following
a leader. We do as the others
do, and follow along the same old
conventional way. 1t is only
when a person differs in some
way from this kind that he is in
teresting. One pea in pod isn't
of any more consequence than
another. All being just alike,
they have no particular interest
for us, anyway. But when we
find an unconventional, original
man or woman, don't we open
our eyes and perk up our ears,
and feel ourselves attracted in
spite of ourselves? Any one who
gets off the :beaten track, and
strikes across fields, and isn't
afraid to make a new path for
himself and refuse to tag along
blindly after the mob, always
possesses a good deal of charm
for me. l wonder at him. and !
like him; he interests me, because
he is different from the crowd.
1t seems to be the aim Of most
persons TO be just as much like
the rest of the world as possible.
Everything in their early life
conduces to this end. AT school
we are taught to do as our mates
do, and to think as they do, and
all must do and think as their
fathers and grandfathers thought
and did, until finally we are
out all on one pattern. or
as nearly that as possible, con-
the different tempera-
ments and dispositions. When a
man gets away from the herd
he is liable to be called 'eccen-
trio if he isn't careful. This is
as good as being called crazy.
An original man is not neces-
sarily eccentric, according to the
general acceptance of the term.
The original person need not do
any startling deeds, or live in
such a way as to stamp him as
peculiar in the eyes of a causal
observer. I don't care cent
for a mere eccentric individual.
He has no charm for me. 1don't
care about hermits. or men who
keep the pig in the parlor. or
run ABOUT without many clothes
on, pretending they are divine
healers, or anything Of that sort.
But / do care a whole lot for a
man with original thoughts and
Such a man is interesting,
maintain, and commands at
tention. His manner of express
ing hi mself is as charming to
me as are the habits of thought.
Odd ways. unconventional man
ners, are delightful, when they
are not brusque or uncivil. A
man may be refined and original
at the same time, and only when
these two qualities go together
does the charm work to per-
lection. Still we have been
known to forgive a great genius
many unpleasant, uncouth ways.
But am not talking Of Carlyle
or Bulver Lytton or any of the
great folks now. lam speaking
of the man we may meet any day
in our peregrinations over the
earth's surface. Originality is
attractive. refreshing. charming.
Couventionality is tiresome, stu-
pid, monotonous. A bright,
original man or woman in society
is like a diamond buckle in long
row of little white agate shirt
buttons. At least this is my
humble opinion. And | am used
m aynrassino my OniniOnS in