The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-05-29
MxscUGLAMUoUs.
From Tonssnblcs Edinburgh Nnga,int.
ONiRESPECTABLE PEOPLE.

From Tonssabtes Edinburgh Mrgdfinf
ON'RESPECTABLE PEOPLE.
There Is not any tenn thai ~ Oftener
snisspphed, or that is u stronger instance
OF the alb So Of language, than this zane
word, respectable h, aresre.inbie man ia
geaeraily meant p'ts0n whom thrre is
no rfasoo for respecting, or none that W
should choose, fnr il there is any odl.a
son for the opinion we wish to express,
VIZ naturally assign i, as the ground Of his
responsibility. II the person whom YOU
are DESTROYS TO charhctetzt fAor,bly il
dist'ng ishe6 for his good nature. YOU say
that h. rs &c ID naturrd man; If BY his
2ra, 10 serve hi. fncnds you call him
friendly man II by hlo vii ar sense, Won
say that hr Is witty or n,,bIe, # by his
honesty or lrarning. You say ~ at once !,
but n he Is nonr of these, and there II NJ
one quality which soa can b'tng forw ard
% justify the high 5npinlon you would b.
Thought TO entertain of HIM, YOU then
take the question for granted and inmp 1t
conclusion, BY observing srt.rly thai
IN is avery ~ prctahlr l.an." Ii /, dear.
indeed, thai where W. have any striking
aid generally aud al niltrd Reasons
f"i respecting man, the NEST obvious
way To ensur. the respect of Others
viii he TO n'otion his .stinahIe on ltlcs ::
~a"r' these are antng. the wlsrs course
must b. nsty nothing apont fhuin, bar
10 insist on the general inference winch
W. have our partienldr reason fn draw.
ing, ouiy vouchins for it's Authenticity. Il,
fnr Instance, the nnl, motive we have for
thinking or speaking we'll of another is.
thai ne gives Us good dinosr., az 10 Is
not valid reason 10 those " no do not ,
like rs par'atr of MS hospitality, we ,nas
(wnhont 6oloG into parlIcnlrs) content
ourselves WITH assuming them that h. is a
most respectable mau IT he is slave 10
those above nm, aud an uppreesor of
chose below him. but sometimes makes H.
;he channrls at HI, county or The tools al
hi caprice, II vii be as we'll To- say no
chi at the ma'ter, but to cohfnp our.
se''ts to the sAt.r generality, that he is a
person "t III" highest rcsprciahlt, !,
d" - low, dirty fellow, v no has amassed
an inmrnse fortune, which he does nat
skuoN WHAT Ia do With, the Possession al
u doue ELL guarantee his tcspectabIity. il
W. say nathlng of The manner in which h.
n"S come by II, at IN which he spends n.
a man may hr knave or fool ar h,tL
faot may happen aud yet be d most re-.
s"etdel' anan, IN the Common AID au-
sh"f'%"d sense ct the term, provided IN
Keeps up apprdranr's, aud does give com
mon fam" a handle for no longer KEEPING
up The 1mpostIre. The best title To ,hY
CHARACTER respectablIlt, lies in the con
NcWente at those y no echo the cheat.
BIZ The conventional hypocrisy of the
world. " hen W. hear the wnfd cous,Ird
with the name of any mdi,idu !. il veuld
Irgn" q rre" of fomanfic slmphritv ia
imagine Ihtt II llnplies any one quality al
mead of hrhr', any one cXcrllcncc Of hndy
OF mind, any one good action or nraisp.
worthy sentiment but as soon as II 10
nrhuu"d, II centuries up the IDEAS of \
nandSotne house with large acrrq around
IL, sum iaoes table, cellar Will stocked
win excellent vines, spiendd furniture. =
fashionable tqnp"ge, with a hog list nfrl-
e6ant contingencies. II is not what =
man IS bat what he has, that we SNEAK
OF IN the significant use of this term H
my b. the poorest creature in the void
IN himself, bat # he is well to do, and can
spare some OF hts opportunities, if he can
tend us his purse oI his caunfppane. #,,,a
occasions, he then" buys goldrn opinions"
OF rs ut l. bnt fit tbat W. saonld sn..k
We'll OF the bridge that carries Us over and
IN return fer what we can ret from him
we emhody our serSIle gratitude. homes
AND fears, IN this word responsibility. r,
N We pamper his pride, and feed our n W.
heers'llies. 1t must needs ke a very hon
est nneorrnp'rd void that il the ,rn he.
cen III TINS d'sInterrstcd kid of traffic
we q" moi think of applying this word Ia
great poet or great pal ter, To the man
OF grnlus or the man Of virtue. far !, !,
seldom we can spanse upon them l.
"onid be sefeetsm for any on. to pre-.
tend To the character who has a shabb,
coat To his back, who goes without = din
ner or has not good house over hi.
head. He who has reduced himself in IA,
world by de,Otng himself 10 particn,.
stud,, or adherlng To a particnla "causp
e1r'ies only smile Of pity, or a shrnl
OF the shoulders, al The mention of hi
name while he who has raised hmsel
IN II by different course, who has becou,
rlch from wait of ideas, and powerfu
srom want ofprncipie, is looked 10 [,
With silent homage, aud passes for a re-
spectacle man.
Respectabiliiy means a mans situation
and success IN life, not bis character O,