Word: popularity
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Dates: during 1870-1879
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...write with the idea or hope of carrying conviction, nor did I aspire to criticise Harvard social life. My aim was merely to show the influence which popular men have over public opinion at Harvard, and the good which they may do by means of that influence. I am not aware that this topic has ever been discussed in a college paper before, though in illustrating it I spoke of a practice which has been the subject of college comment, - I mean the practice of toadying...
...referring to this time-honored college custom I said that a great responsibility rested upon popular men, inasmuch as many of their admirers would imitate their actions; and, to use a strong illustration, I said that if Swellington got drunk, Gosling, even though he did not like the taste of liquor, would follow his friend's example. This is the statement that "D" challenges. I do not say that Gosling does drink to excess, but I say that he will if Swellington does, and I draw the conclusion from Gosling's conduct in other matters. When "D" says that...
...with the writer of that article, as I believe that arguments in college papers, as a rule, carry with them very little conviction in matters of this nature; but I think one of his statements, at least, should not pass unchallenged. In alluding to the influence exerted by the "popular man," he says, "It is Gosling's [the would-be 'popular man'] private opinion that he ought not to drink, and also that he does not like the taste of liquor; but if he hears that Swellington [the real 'popular man'] has been 'jolly drunk,' he will straightway get miserably...
Even if there is a person in college corresponding to the imaginary "Gosling," - a phenomenon whose real existence one is inclined to question, - he will never become popular by pursuing the policy suggested by this social critic. The man who will make a fool of himself because "Swellington" does, and will then "brag about it for the rest of the year," cannot be familiar with the ways and means of social preferment...
...with our life here. And perhaps it is well that it is so. Perhaps it is well that Doolittle and Carelittle and little Fawner, who have no opinions of their own, should adopt Swellington's opinions. Swellington would not be a popular man if his opinions were not worth having. But what a responsibility he has! He is probably a noble fellow, but is he always as guarded in his conduct as a student whose opinion becomes public opinion should be? Does he remember that every act of his will be imitated by a score of his admirers? For instance...