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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (June 15, 1892)
matcammumttm a THE II ESI' EK IAN. The manner in which admiration is shown such heroes is detrimental both to the hero and to the hero woiship per; detrimental to the former because it makes of him too often a conceited fop, to the latter, because it dis plays and at the same time increases his simplicity. The popular mind is the soul of all hero worship. Just as a crowd i moved to panic by the cry of "fire," so is the public pulse set throbbing by the acts of a hern, Just as the minds of men arc turned by every new fad by the law which makes it imperative for "Chappy" to wear five suits of clothes and eight neckties and half an eyeglass in one day; by this same law are people forced to recognize in others qualities which arc really unworthy of no' ice. , How many nonentities among men arc worshipped by fashion at the present time. The Anglomauiac is one. The Englishman, who allows the press to think for him, follow ing blindly the gospel according to the London Titiut, is even worshipped in this land of the free. Numerous lieutenants, counts, lords, dukes, are received with open arms in America who, in their own country, may be so devoid of honor that a noble name will not shield them from public censure. Many of these arc poor, brainless snobs, who are presented with wives by American hero worshipers, and returned to their native shores, laden with free silver that they have received for their empty titles. Oscar Wilde, too was a hero, who, in return for Amcr'can worship, left us as his legacy a vast amount of sentiment nlism, seasoned with the essence of a sunflower. The subjects which the majority of hero worshipers revere are often unworthy of notice. It seems that in proportion as the hero is unworthy, the hero-worshiper is foolish. The ridiculous extremes to which some persons go, in their wor ship, proves that all those, who are not wise, arc not yet deceased. It is not strange that a hero should be exalted above the common people; but it is strange, that an extraord inary person will be imitated, even to his personal peculi arities, and that, too, by the cultured. When a play stops at u place, it leaves behind waves of its catchy music, When a hero appears upon the scenes, he leaves behind hfm, living evidences of his personality in the persons of his worshippers. Who, on seeing a gentleman in long, flowing curb, docs not believe him either a musician, a cow-boy or a chiropodist. It is natural. Yet, in so doing one is but recognizing the rule which governs the hero. Each hero, of the sensational type, must have some distinguishing characteristic for his followers to imitate. The prominent man in public life is not only imitated, but is constantly hunted by importunate cranks, who desire to obtain from him, some token of recognition. When the heroes are so great that the common people never gain access into their presence, then the worshipper "camps upon their trail," as it were, and, by long waiting and watching, gains the desired end. Such an one was he who followed Tennyson for four hours, in the hope of hearing him utter a few wotds of wisdom, and whose curiosity was finally rewarded b hearing the great Tennyson say: "You take care of the childirn while I get some beer." There is another phase to hero worship, which is far less pleasant to consider, but which displays the indiscrim inate adoration of the unthinking crowd. Humanity too often mistaking the sparkling quartz for the pure gold, exalts worthlessness at the expense of true merit. Mozart must lie in a pauper's grave. The public of his time failed to pay iiiuiuu iu ins yen i us. me puouc, a century later recognizs tier the real hero of to day will have his sepulchre white washed by future generations. Notwithstanding this apparent injustice on the part of moderns, here worship is not, on the whole degenerating. ' The popular mind, though, at the best, easily influenced, is gradually being educated to a higher standard of criticism. All men live in the midst of a storm of criticism, which allows only the best to stand. The worship of the best is not harmful, unless carried to an extreme. It is, however, the unrestrained vacillation of hero worshipers among pscudo heroes, which is productive of the most baneful effects upon both parties concerned. The worthy hero will not be in jured by this worship. He receives deference, because of his real excellence, and is sensible enough to keep self-possessed. Hut the would be hero no sooner comes into public notice than he poses as a superior, and grasps wildly and vainly niter the delusive phantom of fame. Since he desires no more than his own advancement, and that, at vhatcver cost to others, hero worship, which serves as the instrument of his fortune, is, for him, an evil. The present is an age of ax grinding, l'ew, there arc, who have not their own ax upon the huge "grituUtone of public favor. Yet, among these few are those who may be classed with the real heroes, and with the right kind of hero worshippers. The true hero and the true hero worshipper are one. Jioth arc combined in the honest man. It is usual to think of a hero as a courageous being, who ha? endured hardship md suffering; yet scarcely ever docs one think to look about him for these heroes in every day life. Insignifi cant as they often appear, the true heroes are the honest men. What harder task could be assigned a man than to be be perfectly honest. Honesty of heart, of principle, and of action, arc rarely seen combined at the present lime. The principles of an honest man are not worshiped, because the consistent worshipper must make these principles his own; and to do this in the year 1892 means lor the majority of people, a radical change. To the business man this would mean the restitution of ill-gotten gain, and the consequent humiliation; to the politician, the revelation of the methods by which 'he gained his oflice; to the literary "man, the writing of his own productions. Could this reform be established there would be fewer absconders and less political chicanery. There would not appear as did at one time in the Congressional Record, two speeches exactly alike, but purported to have been delivered by different individuals. People believe the world is becoming better in these respects. Tojudgebythe number of reformers one would suppose this true. Hut, before arriving at . conclusion, ex amine these reformers. Kind out the motives and in nine cases out of ten they may be classed with the popular heroes, who are wasting energy in endcavoiing to make-others what they themselves are not nor ever care to be. Example is the best teacher- Let all reforms begin at home, then they will be of some avail. Let each man make himself a hero. Let him be what he would have others be. Let him do as he would have others do; and then a Diogenes may sleep contented in his tub, with his candle extinguished, for all men will be heroes, each hero will be an honest man, an honest man, the noblest work of God. '91 J- W. McCrosky resigned his position here as elec trician on the 26th, to accept a position with the Westing house Electrical and Manufacturing Company at Pittsburg, Pa. IT. I.fi .1.. ..1. m... . '. ' ... . . JHtfaafcH6tftfefawgiSrfrff'.TtB a?t.ftsmitot jftfcgqwppy mat 111 1 111 1 11 11 1iii.. I1,.!, r wneic "c wm """"vl
