Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Rainbow Light]

In 1967 Cadillac mailed out scrolls of "The Penalty of Leadership" to a customer list. Elvis was on that mailing list. This written work by Theodore MacManus had been used in some Cadillac ads as far back as the 1920s. Elvis happened to be out in his father's office behind Graceland after this had come in the mail. He read "The Penalty of Leadership" and said that, even though the piece had been written before he was born, the author could have just as well been writing about him. elvis said it described his life. He framed the scroll and ung it near the desk in his own office upstairs at the mansion. He periodically referred to it and quoted from it. He even had a friend, Janelle McComb, draw up and frame a version in hand calligraphy, written in colours to match his bedroom so he could hang one in there. The one Elvis hung in his office is now on display for Graceland visitors.

The Penalty of Leadership

In every field of human endeavour, he that is first must perpetually live in the white light of publicity. Whether the leadership be vested in a man or in a manufactured product, emulation and envy are ever at work. In art, in literature, in music, in industry, in music, in industry, the reward and punishment are always the same. The reward is widespread recognition; the punishment, fierce denial and detraction. When a man's work becomes a standard for the whole world, it also becomes a target for the shafts of the envious few. If his work be merely mediocre, he will be left severely alone - if he achieve a masterpiece, it will set a million tongues a-wagging. Jealousy does not protrude it's forked tongue at the artist who produces a commonplace painting. Whatsoever you write, or paint, or play, or sing, or build, no one will strive to surpass or to slander you, unless your work be sealed with the stamp of genius. Long, long after a great work or a good work has been done, those who are disappointed or envious continue to cry out that it cannot be done. Spiteful little voices in the domain of art were raised against our own Whistler as a mountebank, long after the big world had acclaimed him its greatest genius. Multitudes flocked to worship at the shrine of Wagner, while the little group of those who he had dethroned and displaced argued angrily that he was no musician at all. The little world continued to protest that Fulton could not build a steamboat, while the big world flocked to the river to see his boat steam by. The leader is assailed because he is the leader, and the effort to equal him is merely added proof of that leadership. Failing to equal or excel, the follower seeks to depreciate and destroy - but only confirms once more the superiority of that which he strives to supplant. There is nothing new in this. It is as old as the world and as old as the human passions - envy, fear, greed, ambition, and the desire to surpass. And it all avails nothing. If the leader truly leads,he remains - the leader. Master-poet, master-painter, master-workman, each in his turn is assailed, and each holds his laurels through the ages. That which is good or great makes itself known, no matter how loud the clamor of denial. That which deserves to live - lives.

By Theodore MacManus


Would be interested to hear if anyone comments on above?

Sue

[maia]

Yes, I had read this before, but thank you for posting it on the ELC Forums for others to read (and for me to re-read).

[Wanda June Hill]

Hi, I had never read that-but now I see where Elvis got the comment that he made "If it deserves to live-it lives" but I don't recall for sure what he was refering to at the time-I think it was some thing said about him-regarding his getting an award-or not. An album that he had hope would be noticed and at least on the list-but it wasn't and he never mentioned it again. It was the last country album that he made-he recorded it in Tennessee and he kind of wanted recognition for it. Of course they ignored it as usual. He talked about one song on it, about having lives so long, in Egypt and various other places. I haven't heard it in so long I can't think of it's name. I have got to get a CD player/record player! Or Sirus radio! Starla has a CD player in her Jeep so I get to listen to what she has when I go with her. Our truck has cassettes and they are all wearing out. I'm deprived. boo-hoo. Thank you for putting that up. I understand more. Wjh

[Rainbow Light]

You're welcome! Just feel it's important to share what I can of anything I can find that is POSITIVE and DESERVING to how good a person I know Elvis to have been at heart and how I feel he should be remembered, especially at the moment when his name is taking a good ole bash from people who claim they were family and so much closer to him than they perhaps were. I won't name names but I think you know who I mean?!