The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1901-11-01
SUCCESS OF LITTLE MEN
VALUABLE GOODS PUT Up IN
SMALL PACKAGES"

small Man Has au AdSnntASe IN Va"
lie Life - There Are Very lew Giants
Among. Those In National Affairs.
Il sometimes think the physically
small man has an advantage in pub
lie life," said Secretary of the Treas
ury Lyman ]. Gage to one OF his as
sistants, who claimed that short stat
ure was a handicap in the race OF life
There is a glamour or romance about
the little fellow who succeeds, con-
tinued the secretary, that attracts at
tention and gives him a reputation.
On the whole I believe the man OF
diminutive size is more effective than
the physically perfect man Of impos-
ing presence. The little fellow is more
aggressive and self assertive because
he has not the adventurous aid of bod
lily beauty and favor. There are lots
OF big little men in pubic life end his
tory abounds in small celebritisn"
This statement was made partly to
encourage Assistant Secretary Allies,
who is disposed to regard an Imposing
presence as necessary to full success
and who sometimes regrets foat his
five feet cannot be stretched half a
cubit But the secretary's fo.e expe-
rience convinces him THIS bodily
height, breadth and depth 20 not in
sure success in life. He has observed
that spirit and ability bring the man
of small physical size into promi-
nence.
1t may be that Secretary Gage. in
eulogizing the small man. bsd in mind.
as an illustration of whEf the little
fellows can do the record Of slr. James
H. Eckels. who was a fei,ow-towns-
man Of Mr.. Gage and con- ptyoller OF
the currency under President Cleve-
land. Shortly after Mr.. Ecsels as
sumed Office in the treasury he was
invited to deliver a lecture before one
Of the law classes in Columbia univer-
sity. He was not recognized when
he repaired to the hall and modestly
took a back seat, where he was the
object Of some curious scrutiny on the
part of the students. who supposed
him to be a young interloperIa
stranger who had simply wandered
into the classroom.
The professor in charge that even
Ing expressed regret that the speaker
for the occasion, Comptroller Eckels,
had not put in an appearance The
stranger In the back row arose and an
nounced that he was Mr.. Eckels. All
eyes were then riveted upon the slight,
boyish figure and youthful face, inno-
cent Of beard. Disappointment was
written on every face, including that
OF the professor. but when the boy"
as he appeared, reached the platform
and began his mastery address, dis
gave way to enthusiasm,
and one of the biggest brains in Pres
ident Cleveland's administration re-
ceived a public introduction.
The physical giant is not met with
very frequently in national affairs,
now that Thomas B. Reed Of Maine
has retired from public life. Outside
Of the supreme court, where master
minds are carried in giant bodies by
such men Of Justices Gray. Harlan
and White. few of the controlling spir-
its who are leaving an impress on
history are above medium height or
weight, and many of the most PROM
lnent are far below the average sized
man. Even the supreme court is pre-
sided over by a man small in stature
and slight of figure Melville w. Full
Ter, chief justice of the United States
supreme court, is q pygmy compared
with Associate Justice Gray. who sits
IT his immediate left on the bench.
Justice McKenna, the latest appointee
TO the bench, Is small in stature.
Measured by ordinary standards the
president Of the United States IL q
small man physically, but there IL no
ioubt of his having achieved great
success and having won . high place
n the history Of the country and Of
he world.
He is hardly up to what Is called
medium height He has associated
With him . number of big little men.
Hon. John Hay, secretary Of state.
to England and known
III the world over a. . poet and au-
hor. started in life with the supposed
handicap Of q slight body and under
lied figure. Secretary of the Navy
Iong Is below the standard height,
md Postmaster-Ge General Smith IL hard
y up to the medium line. The present
Ittorney-general. Mr.. Philander C.
Knox, cannot boast of many inches,
tut his success where mentality IL
'otent was long ago achieved.
President McKinley's last Republic
an predecessor, the late General Har-
ison. was familiarity known as lit
lie Ben" He had large men in his
abinet, but never showed to disad-
antage, even alongside the talented
'laine. who was above the average
Ire and Of very graceful and impos-
ng presence.
In congress the little men often at
ract the most attention. Within the
est quarter Of century many states