The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-21
RG9Tt- tO-He7Tt Talks
BY THE CYNIC.

The greatest show on earth is a large
crowd of people waiting for some de-
ferred function There a close observer
will see all kinds and conditions of men,
for the in siyid-al ,uncon~c.ously reveals
his inner sef. The vain VIII Sc. k the open
space before the crowd to parade The
stage or G. and stand Will be filed with
s flap ocin ed dignitar.es, puffed with the
consciousness of Ing the observed of all
observers Here is a gathering of the
people to greet the p esident of the United
States, who is to SHOW himself to the
poop e, SPEAK a few commonplace plati-
tudes about the glory and prosperity of
the country. bow and move on to another
town where a similar crowd is awaiting
him. A farce, yes no one will question
the farcical aspect of these presidential
performances, but the real comedy is fur
nished by the actors who play the little
parts. Every freak, fraud and fakir is
on hand and in evidence. Ninety per cent
come to see the president, but 10 per cent
come to be seen by the people. Here is
the little man who holds a position OF
profit, which he has secured by assldu-
GUS .self-puffing. He divides the time of
waiting between the grand stand and the
open space reserved for the presidential
procession, where he walks with folded
arms and preoccupied mien as if he sus-
tanned the weight of the world. He is
advertising himself. Slyly he looks out
of the tail of his eyes TO see how the ex-
hibition is taking with the crowd. This
little man is a type of the many who
embrace every opportunity to obtrude
themselves upon the public and who are
never 50 delighted as when they see their
names in print.
The man is there who knows everything
and who is very anxious to inform the
people Of that fact. In loud tones he airs
his knowledge, never dreaming that he is
advertising his ignorance. The poser is
there in unifOrm-the liner" who belongs
to all kinds of secret societies and who
never misses chance to appear in the
parade of the Uniformed rank He is
there in force, feeling himself the center
OF all eyes, as with sash, plume and rusty
pants he marches in mock-heroic fashion
to the measured beat of his own mag
ination. 1t is the possibilities of these occa-
sfons which make the uniformed ranks cf
the secret orders so popular Men who
have no other way to distinguish them
selves from the common herd, seize upon
this mode of securing for a brief mo-
ment public attention. Watch them as
they march and note the expression Of
self-conSciousnes in face and figure and
as they shuttle along the street, totally
unconscious of the martial music with
which they are supposed to keep steep.
The young officer is there, too, at the
head OF his awkward squad in uniform.
He is nervous in the possession of a
sword which he feels should be waved
above his head, a la "Perry's victory on
Lake Erie" but somehow he cannot find
an occasion to warrant just such an act
Oh, that a foe might appear upon which
he might lead his gallant striplings to
victory or death" before the very eyes
of the admiring multitude; for how can
the multitude help to admire an array of
military prowess. The dude is there with
neck wrapped in stock" and pants
turned up that they may bag artisticaily
at the seat He thinks he is pretty. and
L for one would not disabuse his mind Of
the Authorization if 1 could. 1t is his
only resource of entertainment
I The masher is there, seeking whom he
may devour. Although empty-headed
and with no credentials he is admitted
to the charmed circles; a hunter minus
weapon without ammunition. he finds
game at hand and so tame that it does
hot run at his approach.
This is the part of society that is most
in evidence at public gathering. 1t is
the froth on the beer the small potatoes
that are always found at the top of the
load: the diamond of paste that is flashed
in the face of the public, and the public
is dazzled and adnires.