The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-07
POPULARITY.

Fthi't i4Attlih.
=, &c - common observation and frequent *.
r,orience that poverty. sickness. suffering, do
INVITATIONS. the things We most dread md car
nestly strive 10 avoid, bring TO our lives our
richest. sweetest and dearest blessings. the
tbsnes for which we seea and tong riches DIS
tinctions. popularity, admiration bring nron us
~nrscz and disaster. All human lifc ie q system
a. commerce with invisible currency and ne
diurns Of exchange We buy ard sell. and as
we do them wisely we win or losc get happiness
Or. misery.
one,of tire most dangerous o' all the things
we.try no buy and win Is money IN large guam
titles. We eive for 1t, sometimes our health,
our toll and thought peace. comforts and
measures and those of our families. sometimes
character itself. and learn too late that we have
made "a CHASTITY and bitterly bad bargain Per
ngps the next most dangerous possession is
popularity which by the way, very often ia one
Of the, first things we surrender for money. ON
4hc other hand. people who love money so dear
Nv that they will release their grip upon 1t for
no other purpose. occasionally lavish 1t to graft
fy their craving TO be popular, Desire for the
good will and good opinion Of our fellows Is
one Of The most powerful springs directing and
melting human action. Possibly II Is the strong
est Of all for most of us have seen It over
come every other instinct and passion. It is
unhappily true that many Of us give much moro
OF our attention and hope to being popular with
mankind than to winning the approval Of the
Almighty and the rewards that attend It, Yet
tie popular mar, woman-especially those Of
whom speak being universally popular"
or'"the most popular In the community" are In
perslous position always. Grown people are
ratlsan- more easily spoiled than children. Flat
terry cannot sooth the dull cold ear of death.
blrt II In dangerously sweet aud intoxicating to
all ages of the living Nobody ever is too old
10 receive and enjoy IL Vanity. We are told,
is the last inf1rnlty Of noble mind, 1t Ia fat.
tened and distorted to Frotesquo and absurd
shapes II fed ebundantly on Hattery.
when popularity has been attained 1t becomes
something like a disease It weaNens, eneFYates'
sups. intellect. unbalances tho judgment Have
u,ot7-narry Of us seen people ruined by It? C
a,ave seen them barter for II strength. GOOD
habits OF life. money. position, religion and
y,r4ncfple. The pursuit OF It and attempts IA
retain IL p0e0"'' oN''
tempting 70 'ne 'o'io"l"s VI ''o
crowds reEaroie7S 81 "i'''"'' '.''' 1870.
toy3o'nlng in popular cf~''o'7 "'u .'''9' a
Yer how much our reason and self-respect may
revolt The longing 'o' "'@' Is ''llU l rors
aaTfy IN what IF e"'''0 '.
snare. II carries So0hs anu CIV '-'','
men away from u'o'r 'o's'''l'''a ',''0
feeehings OF taeT Aoi'eS 'ii'o
vulgar eAhfo'uons "HicA MAKE ''' ~
grieve 'aHd presently cause loss q N''''''''
stained and destroyed Isp0'"'oNS
Ii is not Impossible to be both popular and
right bat It is ono OF the most d'racut OF al
the tasks put before humanity Aen'eVeDnen'
OF It demands humility and selfsacF'nee' emu
less practical evidence Of sincerity and unset
1ishness Taking an old city Ike Richmond
ara studying its history of a century ana IL
citizens individually through that time we may
AAs