The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-02-26
Prestige
nv m. ADDINoroN BRUCE
Author OF The Riddle OF Person
Atty" Psychology and
Parenthood." etc.

Prestige II one OF the least dis
cussed but most potent facts IN hui
man existence. There are no pro
verbs about ~ the quotation books
do not seem TO have heard OF It,
Even wilstach's extensive "Dtc;lon-
airy OF Smiles" contains no reference
TO II.
Nevertheless. II r. something OF
incalculable value to all who pos
sess II.
With the Aid OF prestige an info
rior man can travel far In the way Of
attaining worldly success, Lacking
prestige. n superior man is indublia-
bly, handicapped As Lewis Leopold
has truly observed:
The want OF prestige throws q
thousand obstacles in the way OF
initiation. OF the work OF pioneering
and experimenting.
"A professor OF moderate capacity.
who has no practical success TO
boast OF as yet. has FAR less difficulty
In finding a capitalist 10 finance his
invention than a clever. ingenious
mechanic In a blue overall. with his
humble way OF putting his case.
Most invalids would much rather
trust their lives 10 a pompous pro-
fessor practieing in the capital than
10 the cleyerest country practitioner.
An artist without prestige has n
veritable Calvary to 40 thru before
be can realize his compositions. his
pictures. his carvings. or his szill
with the violin"
These citations Ind cate clearly not
only the Importance, but also the ma.
ture OF prestige. Briefly II may be
defined as weight or influence de-
rived from superficial or accidental
circumstances rather than intrinsic
worth.
Its widespread potency. OF course,
testihes TO a curious weakness IN
human nature. Yet there is this To
be added. that IL prestige is helpful
To inferior men Il Is equally helpful
tc superior ones.
Thus. as suggested by Leopold's
remarks. a certain prestige attaches
10 the title OF profe saor. A man who
can call himself professor Is pretty
sure 10 III pNattsntive hearIrEs
even wheh-he voicts opinions rega-dA
ing matters ot-+aleh he fncw&
verse thah gothins
on the opposite Y he J as opinions
worth exp blessing. the-rTestige 81 his
tile incre hses the likelihood thar
these opinions will gain acceptance.
Hrr-prFstige IL Eianifcstly adv
Ttageous 10 society as we'll rs 10 It's
Fassessor.
Again. he accldcn, OF birth In an
"old family gives prestige TO many
an lgnoramus Bur also IL helps a
wise man benefit his fellows thru bis
wisdom.
Recognizing this. we should. how
ever. set ourselves nrmly against sue
enmbing 70 the influence Of prestige.
For prestige always means "a dc
cadence OF self government de-
crease OF the temperature OF intel.
lect in favor OF sentiment"
Instead OF kow-toUing 20 Prot
Plank. and accepting as oracular the
utterances q Pref Blank simply be
Cause they are uttered by PROT
Blank. our business should be 20
Judge whas lie says by It's real mean.
ing.
Always we need 70 be Intellectual
~ independent Always we need 20
develop and stick 10 the habit OF
thinking :or ourselves. Always We
need 10 guard against being hypno-
tired by the prestige OF name. title,
tank account, or pOmp.
Perhaps We never can hope wholly
10 escape the influence Of prestig,
Iut the more We can ercape from II
the more we insist on measuring
men and things by the measuring
rod OF reason the better of We shall
be.