The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-02-26
Prestige
NJ n. AppINGroN BRUCE
Author OF The Riddle OF Person
ality," Psychology and
Parenthood." etc.


Prestige Is one OF the least dis
cussed but most potent facts In hui
man existence. There arc no pro
verbs about Il: the quotation books
do not seem TO have heard OF n.
Even wilstach's extensive "Dfc;lon.
airy OF Smiles" contains no reference
to II.
Nevertheless. II r. something OF
incalcuiable value 10 all who pos
sess IT.
With the aid OF prestige an info
rior man can travel far In the way OF
attaining worldly success. Lacking
prestige. a superior man is lndubita'
bly, handicapped. As Lewis Leopold
has truly observed:
The want OF prestige throws n
thousand obstacles in the way OF
initiation. OF the work OF pioneering
and experimenting.
"A professor OF moderate capacity.
who has no practical success 10
boast OF as yet. has far less d,ticultv
In finding n capitalist to 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 20 pompous pro
lessor practicing in the capital than
10 the clevercst country practitioner.
An artist without prestige has a
veritable Calvary TO go thru before
he can realize his compositions. his
pictures. his carvings. or his skill
with the violin"
These citations indicate 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.
It's widespread potency. OF course.
testihes 20 q curious weakness In
human nature. Ye: there Is this 10
be added. that II prestige is helpful
10 inferior men IL Is equally helpful
to superior ones,
Thus. as suggested by Leopold's
remarks. a certain prestige attaches
TO the title OF professor. A man who
can call himself professor Is pretty
sure 10 &c, an attentive hearing
even when be voices opinions regard
ing matters OF which be knows
worse than nothing
On the opposite. 10 he has opinions
worth expressing. the prestige 81 his
title increases the likelihood thar
these opinions will gain acceptance
Here prestige is rIanifc-tly adv An
tageous 10 society as we'll as TO it's
lsossessor.
Again. The accident OF birth In an
"old family" gives prestige TO many
an ignoramus. Bur also IL helps a
wise man benefit his fellows thru ais
wisdom.
Recognizing this. we should. how
ever. set ourselves firmly against sue
oumblng TO the influence OF prestige.
For prestige always means "a de-
cadence OF lf-goverpment-a de
crease OF The temperature OF intel.
lect In favor OF sentiment"
Instead OF kov.towing 10 Prof.
Plank. and accepting as oracular the
utterances a Pref. Blank simply be-
cause they are uttered By Prof.
Blank. our business should be 10
Judge whas he says by Its real mean
ing.
Always we need 10 be intellectual.
II Independent Always we nees n
develop md stick 20 the habit Of
thinking sor ourselves Always we
need 10 guard against being hypno-
TIED by the prestige OF name. title.
tank account, or pomp.
Perhaps we never can hope wholly
10 escape the influence OF presug.
But the more we can eccape from Il
the mere wa insist on measuring
men and things by the measuring
rod OF reason the better OF we shall
be.