Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-02-24
ALL MUCH ALIKE.

are quite eager for publicity and even more aCl-
roit in securing it. We-many of us, at least
have lost the conservatism of earlier DAYS that we
not only try to get in the glare of ec:;lm our
selves but we even strive to put children there
unmndful of the harm that this does to the imma-
ture mind. Formerly we considered our children
as something sacred to be shielded from the public
gaze; we furnish their pictures for publication
whenever a newspaper or Il magazine courts pop
ularity with children beauty show. and we send
notices of their little entertainments to the society
editors. If we have child who is somewhat pre-
cocious, who dances or sings speaks well, we are
anxious about her press notices the manager of
any prima donna. And the child becomes self-con-
scious, conceited and altogether spoiled Almost
without exception, it is distinctly hurtful: it gives
the child an exaggerated idea of its own Importance
and makes it vain and generally unbearable.
But the child is not the one | wish to discuss.
The child, in such cases, is the victim of foolish
parents it does not seek notorety itself-at least,
not in the beginning. Later it may ape its elders,
but its 'fame" is forced upon it at first. The el-
ders the who deliberately seek the publicity
that is beneficial to them in business way or graft
flying to their personal vanity Some of them would
scorn the imputation that they advertising them
selves, but how else it be truthfuy characterize
ed! What else would make it possible for profes-
sonal ''publicity promoters to succeed. Surpris-
ing as it may seem to the nintiaed, there are
who make business of putting their clients prom
nently before the public without the of the
regular advertising columns. And paying business
some of them find it, too. In most instances how
ever, the man seeking publicity is his own press
agent
There are politicians who are advertising ex-
perts. Publicity is exceptionally essential to GER
tain class of politicians. 1t may not be of value to
the ''machine" manager, but the man who holds an
elective Office is decidedly anxious to keep his name
before the public. He does it in dozen different
ways. 1t may be that his office of sufficient i'm
portance to enable him to hold public attention by
his official acts. If not, he relies on the newspaper
men, for they make public characters. He tells
stories, he describes humorous incidents in his
career he has himself interviewed, he is ready to
father any joke or any story that may be ascrbcd
to him. incidentally, it may be said that various
prominent men are credited with amusing and harm
less sayings and doings of which they knew nothing
until they saw them in print. Chicago reporter
once had need of a man upon whom to hang a story.
1t was fairly good story, but it would add to It's
interest and value if told of some local character
who was known to the public. He finally selected II
local politician the subject. When he next saw
the politician the latter said abruptly; rhat story
you told about me was lie, so far as | am concern
ed The newspaper man admitted it. ''Well,"
said the politician, ''it was good story and it
helps to keep the people from forgetting me-
Whenever you have any other stories as good put
them me-" For considerable time the poti-
clan basked in the sunlight of publicity, for which
the stories that the newspaper man saddled upon
him were largely responsible. 'Its all worth votes
to me-" the politician explained frankly. 81 need
the publicity" In this connection it may be sug-
gested that Chauncey NJ Depew is one of the best
and most expert advertising men that this country
ever produced. He has advertised himself into the
United States senate which is not to be understood
as meaning that he is at all unworthy of that high
position Carter H. Harrison is good advertiser
also Whenever there seems to be likelihood that
the searchlight will be turned away from him, he
breaks into print with article that describes the
frightfully hard time he has being mayor of Chica-
60 Then there is William Jennings Bryan, who
advertised himself into Il pretty comfortable thing
lecturer and general adviser to the American pub
lie Ebert Hubbard publishes dimnutve maga,
zine to advertise himself and repay his obligations
to others for favors past and prospective You can
always tell when any one has been good to Ebert
| by the way he writes about him in his magazine
but you are principally impressed with the fact that
Elbert is good to himself. John w. Gates likewise
is at some pains to keep himself stop of column
next to pure reading matter" When he cannot do
it in any other way he makes large bet. Thomas
w. Lawson is most versatile advertiser He has
tried many schemes, including the international
yacht lace, the Lawson pink and ''Frenzied Fl
nance" Indeed, the list of those who metaphorcal-
| ly speaking, CLOSE their diamonds is long one
but they all speak scornfully of the actress who
| loses hers
| Thus, for business social reasons we are
very ready to CLOSE diamonds whenever we
have an opportunity to do advantageously. We
can this easily where others concerned, and
little ihtrospection will show that we are much
like the others. And we are becoming more and
more addicted to the publicity habit. Occasionally,
there substantial benefits to be derived from it;
in other cases we like the feeling of importance that
| it gives u.s. If, we frank, will admit that
we probably would refuse to sit for three hours on
the stage at public meeting if no one to know
that we were among the distinguished citizens And
our wives and daughters would not be ready, not
TO say anxious, to give descriptions of their gowns
to the reporters at the charity ball if they did not
think it helped to advertise them into stronger
hold upon society. Until we attain at least Il GER
tain measure of publicity we feel that we are no
body. So-some of cautiously and delicately
and some of us boldly and aggressive,y--we seek
for advertising opportunities:
There are even weddings that are little more
than efforts to attract attention.
of man n1 in of l,,