Gilpin Observer

POPULARITY

Th' trouble with most men an' women who waste many a golden hour chasin' after popularity without makin' any noticeable headway is that they're either lackin' in th' peculiarities o' th' genuine or money. Ther's two kinds o' popularity--th' real, inexpensive, natural finish, or uncommon variety, an' th' smilin', smirkin', flashy, shimmerin' short-lived sort which depends entirely on an alert press agent an' one's willin'ness t' come across.

While th' cost o' cultivatin' popularity an' coaxin' it along thro' its early stages is often unreasonably high, th' expense entailed in maintainin' it after it is supposed t' be self sustainin' is almost enough t' discourage even one who has weathered th' second year o' his tourin' car. Th' ultimate obscurity that seems t' be th' inevitable fate o' all who have known th' glamor of a brief, wasteful society-fruit tree agents, has-beens an' solicitors.

How many people do you know who were once pop'lar an' who, thro' some slip o' th' tongue, some breach o' th' code or th' accidental display o' th' yeller feather, are carryin' th' banner t'day unmourned an' fergotten? Popularity is fleetin'. It is here t'day an' gone t'morrow. It vanishes be fore sudden adversity like a paper dollar on Saturday night. Popularity is like a babe. It must be nursed an' cuddled lest it withers an' fades. As it thrives its upkeep increases. Th' fickleness o' th' American people is too well known t' ever think fer a minute that your popularity is cinched. It's as hard t' build up a long neglected popularity as it is t' put a run down hotel back in th' game.

T' keep his popularity in good runnin' order a feller should neglect hie business t' help others. He should give beyond his means. He should put up hammocks fer others t' enjoy. He should accept appointments on committees an' take a deep interest in all movements fer th' betterment o' others. He should fergit who borrowed his lawn mower an' refuse t' run fer office. He should agree with ever'body an' leave his opinions at home with his troubles. In other words, he should be a nice even tempered goat with a kind word an' a good cigar fer all. Ever' time I see a widely pop'lar feller surrounded by a lot o' smilin' coyotes I allus think o' that dear ole lyric, "I'll Love You When Your Money's Gone, But I'll Not Be With You."

The season o' popularity is often pathetic. T' be suddenly, or even gradually, torn from those who have laughed at your jokes, those who have used you an' fattened on your vanity, those who have got your vanity, those who have got ahead thro' your generosity an' those who have shown you a good time no matter how much it cost you, is one o' th' common an' pitiable spectacles o' life. Look at th' grand ole mansion that has been turned int' a boardin' house because it no longer met th' requirements o' th' gay throngs whose laughter shook its great chandeliers from he'r mornin's! T'day it is a shrino fer th' forlorn an' frazzled failures o' (Copyright, Adams Newspaper Service.)