Word: popularity
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Dates: during 1873-1873
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...often been remarked by persons of observation and experience, when speaking of those who are called popular men in college, that they obtain their position by "being politic," that is, by seizing all opportunities of insinuating themselves into the good graces of their companions, embracing all occasions of placing themselves prominently forward, and perhaps by treading over the timid and cautious and by assuming a right and power, which is yielded to them, not because they have any claims to what they assume, but because others have not the courage nor inclination to dispute or compete with them...
...college the most careful and painstaking students receive the highest percentage of marks; but they are not brilliant men, nor do their fellows always admit that they are the best scholars. Thus, certain affable, graceful, and politic men, able in popular amusements, are admitted into clubs and societies to the exclusion of others who, when weighed by real merit, would be more entitled to the privilege and honor. There is far too much of this politic seeking for popularity in college; the methods are many, and the results various. Popularity which is sought after and courted is a dangerous thing...
There are various avenues to college popularity: some wish to be popular with a few, and therefore seek by means of their money to make friends with the conspicuous members of prominent societies; some try for it by prowess in boating or at ball, and some by generous contributions to the funds for current expenses; some by being jolly fellows, and others by the politic exercise of an eloquent and self-asserting tongue...
...dissatisfied with the popular art productions which disfigure so many walls, in the shape of decidedly "unpleasant" females in most unadvisable attitudes, - now clinging or "wopsing" about a cross, and now simply "gawking" at vacuity, - may not at first quite sympathize with these admirable fac-similes. The above-mentioned females, currently called Faith, Charity, Hope, or Liberty, often have a surface prettiness that must not be sought in a real work of art. Rembrandt and Durer never made pretty pictures, any more than Shakespeare wrote "nice" poetry...
...only in part to those whose present literary efforts are confined to our college journals. Upon the hypothesis, then, that Harvard men are shrewd enough to distinguish a good joke from a bad one, and too refined to relish vulgarity, the conclusion is this, that he cannot be a popular writer who, for the sake of a joke, oversteps the bounds of good taste...