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

I
Prestige is one OF the least dis
cussed but most potent facts IN hui
nan existence. There are no pro
verbs about H. the quotation hooks
dc not seem 10 have heard OF A..
Even Nilstach's extensive ''Dlc;ion-
ary OF Smiles" contains no reference
TO it.
Nevertheless. u IT. something Of
incalcnlable value 10 all who pos-
sess H.
With the aid OF prestige an irfc-
nor man can travel far in the WAY OF
attaining worldly success. Lacking
Prestige. q supe nor man IL indub,ts-
bly, handicapped As Lewis Leopold
has truly observed.
The want OF prestige throws a
thousand obstacles In the way or
initiation. OF the work OF pioneering
and experimenting.
a professor OF moderate capacity.
who has no practical success TO
hoast OF az vet. has Ear less dlfficrltV
in nnding a capitalist 90 finance his
invention than a clever. ingenious
mechanic IN n blue overall. with his
humble way Of outing his case
Most inyalids would much rather
trust their lives TO pompous pro
lessor practicing in the capital than
10 the cleverest country practitioner.
An artist without prestige has
yeritsble Calvary 10 20 thru before
be can realize his compositions. his
pictures. his carvings. or his skill
With the violin"
These citations ind cate clearly not
only the Importance. but also the ma.
turc OF prestige. Briefly II may h.
oehned az weight or influence de-
rived from superficial or accidental
circumstances rather than inirnsic
worth
las widespread potency, OF course.
testihes 10 curious weakness in
human nature Ye: there IL this 20
be aided that II prestige is helpful
20 inferior men IL Is equally helpful
to superior ones.
Thus. as suggested ~ I%opold's
remarks. certain prestige attaches
20 the title Of professor 4 man who
can call himself professor Is pretty
sure TO get an attentive hearing.
even when be voices opinions reSs-d-
ing matters % which he knows
verse than nothing
On the opposite. " he has opinions
worth expressing. the prestige II his
titlc increases the likelihood that
these opinions viii gain acceptance.
Here prestige IL rtanifestly adv an.
tageous 10 society a. well ls - It's
I.ossessor.
Again. he accident OF birth in an
Old family" gives prestige 10 r.sDy
an ignorauus. Bur also IL helys a
0lse man benefit hts fellows thru his
pisdom
RECOGNIZING iris. We should. how.
ever. set ourselves brmiy against sue
cumblug 20 the influence o. prestige
FOr prestige always means "a de-
cadence OF slf.goverpment--a de
crease Of the temperature % intel
loct in favor of sentiment"
Instead OF kow towing 10 Prot
Flank. and accepting az oracular the
u,tsrance. e Prof Blank simply BE-.
Cause theY are uttered by Prof
Blank. our business should be TO
nudge Vha- lie says by IT, real mean
ing
Always we need 20 be intellectual
L. Independent Always We need TO
develop and stick 20 the habit OF
thinking :or ourselves. Always we
need 10 -usrd against being hyDno-
uzed By the prestige OF name, title.
Lank account. or pomp.
Perhaps We never can hope wholly
10 escape the influence Of preyug.
lgut the more We can efcspe from IL
the more We insist on measuring
men and things by the measuring
rod OF reason the better OF we shall
be-.