Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/251

 SOCIAL CONTROL 237

Said Vandamme of Napoleon: "That devil of a man exer- cises a fascination on me that I cannot explain to myself, and in such a degree that, though I fear neither God nor devil, when I am in his presence I am ready to tremble like a child, and he could make me go through the eye of a needle to throw myself into the fire." Augereau is stupefied at their first meeting, and confesses afterward that this "little devil of a general" has inspired him with awe.

II.

What are the conditions and causes of this personal ascend- ency?

Undoubtedly a condition of excitement favors it. The battle field, with its exalted mood, has always been the scene of the most splendid triumphs of personal influence. Hence great captains Hannibal, Caesar, Clive, Bonaparte, Ney, Stonewall Jackson, Lee, Skobeleff have shown a rare capacity to win their men's devotion. Cavalry battle, especially, with its intoxi- cation of rapid movement and thrill of personal encounter, gives to leaders like Prince Rupert, Murat, Schill, Sheridan, or Phil Kearney an almost superhuman value. Men in masses armies, mobs, audiences succumb more readily than the same men taken singly, because of the herd thrill. Hence, perhaps, the otherwise strange connection between personal ascendency and public speaking. Quite apart from the persuasiveness of his utterances, the orator enjoys two favorable conditions of personal fascination a crowd and continuous attention. Times of alarm and stress give golden opportunities to the born leader. We have but to recall Peter the Hermit, Joan of Arc, Danton, Lam- artine, Garibaldi, and Lincoln.

The causes of hero worship are to be sought in the hero. The serene brow of Sakya Muni, the burning black eyes of Mahomet, the stature of Charlemagne or Peter the Great, the purity that shone upon the face of the Maid, the "terrific ugli- ness" of Mirabeau, the piercing eye of Napoleon, the leonine face of Webster, the glance "like the glint from broken steel"