Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-12-04
Fyom .tke BALANCE.

From .tbe BALANCE.
The rea! gentleman is a character which
viii ever command the efeem and reG,ea
OF men in all iiluatIons CT life. While the
humble peafant viewsit with adoytaiou, il
claims equal attention from his lofty lord.
The revernd lage regards it with applaufe;
and the lneering cynic and tie churlG
milamhrope, while they affect to deipil.
and ridicuie it, 10 iecretly approve itsprin.
ciples, and give AMPLE proof that they en-
w others ,he rofshion OF V hat they feel
themfelpes deprived.
The mott saential properties ofthis cha.
raeer are, the honelt heart, the benevo.
lent mind, competent knowledge of hu.
man nature, and the active deGre OF rem
dering TO every che the treatment due 10
his iiation and merits. How widely diff.
.esent thefe, from the ftiious qualitie.
which compete is counterfeit The mo.
dern gentleman, according to the gere.
raj acceptance Of The term, is character,
which will admit of very different def
cription money, fine drels, sh urmeaning
pliabilisy of behaviour, and falcination Of
manners are the principle ingredients that
enter into our idea of its competition.
Scarcely do we hear Of any name or Cha
rat1er that interetts cur attention, than,
before we dare form any opinion OF his
merits, the queRion aries in the mind, If
not expreHed in, words, How much is he
worth What property may he haTe' 1t
he is nam Of fortune, we are generally
fasisied without putting our enquiries any
farther, and feel at no lois in tnrnlhng
oat{elyes with ample materials tor bu'id.
ing, upon this foundation, q chasat'eI t2''
wiIl be fure 70 ftand the tefi Of partial o.
ic.vatiou. I! he is poor, however amSbis
may be the qualities wheh compete ili'
character, we fem no farther ia'eFetea
in their difcoyery, than TO latisiy The re-
mains of an excited curioGty, without
much inclination Of knowing er BENG
known by p-Efonal acquaintance. II a
perlon is rich, this confederation eahly n
daces Us to difpenle with mary 'mpof-
rant qualifications we aaould o.hsr"H'
deem neceflasy ii forming an acquaintance
or in making friepd. And even 'ae AZ,
pearances, of friepdlhip and bencyolencs
among napkiad are generally Pr0pof,ioo-
ed 10 the ldppofed riches and rark o. nm
IWh6ise favor and patronage are cnltlyatea,
l,tgis .n.srea fways rhe hutnan mind; and
tic erea, rsafaa Of our pTeierrinss ', ,.a
cassntaIscs aud triendih,p Of the $ dlItln-
ea;ihea in wealth, " is beeaule that We
eexpets from them the qualification OF o S'
ya,a;fyy ambition or avat;ce. It IS i''
his reaion thar TO many friendihIP'
arc hslily formed, and as haitliy en- en-
laIyed Ike morping dawes w''0 n a.
teriag expectation, The evening ', p',
with yexasious disappointment. Du 1,
allowing Us 10 obtain all tha' we ''Oll
.eyaest from tic wealth Of he rioo' ~.
The favor Of tie great, would TINS ": oe 'D On
70 dilatc the foul w;th fubaanaai J2{'' w
p;ys TO the mind the glow OF ls; .nd
+ osa, delight, /! /" Can g2ld ga" ), '''t On
(n;o impudcnce Of thought; s IL.
al, the ass,irg pleafsres 6 the :, r .I;as
!" eli up that void, the wnols ~, :" .,;as; 8.
lave, il human hearts Can nag pc, a.
!, narchsl.d with with ; ~ sra
pain be baniAed BY ign ~ ~ e.r,b.
en- thea accomplishments Of saeh ,s .'i ;o,.
" ralair, give foil enjoy "sn'!o ,,i .I.
,,,.-., .,ind Whole d-hres are po'''H'