Evening star., 1933-09-10

child as a stage performer?
Why should any famous man or woman, or
even the wife of man IN the puehc eye, oe
considered an authority on religion, ocean
liners. economics. weather. American elrS
Babe Ruth's batting average and candidates
fo. public office?
TIE answer, although not the explanation
hes in what psychologists call halo prestge'
The dictionary defines halo as 'the glow or
ricry investing an object ideahzed by senti-
!: ,,nt" psychologist has defined halo pres
tge as that excess Of glory, glamour, reputa-
TN or honor beyond the limits Of true merit
W, \ which public invests person. thing
o. an ideal.
Practically all widely known and deeply
lc ed heroes are crowned by their admirinG
Z olic with this sort Of halo.
\ man like Lindbergh Balbo, who wins
tt respect Of millions by spectacular feat OF
oolrage and skill in one field, Is Immediately
{ .:owed with prestige in all sorts OF other
{, ds The fact that Lindbergh's fame was
c finally achieved in aviation, and very little
:: known of his activities in other lines, does
hinder the public from regarding him as
l expert in mathematics, military affairs,
!ysics, engineering, government and educa-
;,cn.
HE consistency with which most people are
! Inclined to boost the stock of the hero in
cory sort of line is revealed by tests conducted
'-, colleges all over the country by DR.. A. O.
WIDEN, president of the New Mexico State
- achers College, and two associate, Dr.
royd F. Caldwell and DR.. Guy A. West
Seven men, famous in widely different fields
,crc selected as the heroes" to be rated for
',eir ability by the college students. The men
;ere Charles A. Lindbergh, aviator; Albert
-'1stein. mathematical physicist and inventor
the theory Of relativity: John j. Pershlng
Military leader Of the World War Theodore
,-osevelt famous big stick President and
:--rtsman- writer; Thomas A. Edison, inventor
c,.traordinary; J. P. Morgan, financier. and
bert Hoover, engineer and President.
The students were asked to rate each of
'-e3e seven men for their ability in each Of
&c following fields: Aviation, physical sci
c,ces, biological sciences, government and
s2tesmanship, philosophy. economics and
e.. nee education. phrenology. mathematics,
iitary affairs, agriculture, engineering. law
- JURISPRUDENCE journalism, and-of all
lgs-pamstry.
-rlrenology and palmistry were included In
= list so as to find. out whether there might
tendency to rate heroes low In fields that
. dscredited. This is exactly what hap
cd Every one of the seven llustrious men
9 rated at the low end Of the scale on
mistry Evidently America, though count
on heroes to be good at nearly everything,
3es not insist that they be able to read the
Lure from the palm OF your hand
--rhaps you would like to find out whether
II. friends are hero worshipers in this way.
Sc you can try Dr. Bowden's experiment
ely enough. Just ask the crowd after the
i.dge party to set down rating for the
heroes of the hour in the subjects mentioned
bcve
TELL them to set down a zero after aviation
if they think this particular mans ideas
End opinions on aviation are no better than
nose Of the average man on the streets They
:r. to set down 100 if they consider him the
highest authority on the subject.
a rating Of SO would indicate that he IS
sbout half way between the average man and
the highest authority They can assign any
value they w1sh-5 or 80 or SO or any number
they think suitable.
You will have some fun, if you include in
ycur list Of heroes" in addition to the men
d. Bowden included the favorite in your own
lccal election, and some others among the
Y, ost resnected of Ynur town folk It would