Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-01-08
GENTLEMEN LIBERTIN ES.


The following article, copied from the
Name Free Press, is full OF good sense,
and adapted to the times. 1t exposes
both a false sentiment and ii false Cour-
tesy, which are not only productive of
inexpressble misery but give counto-
nance to boundless licenliousness. 1t is
hoped that young females especially, and
old ones too-wll read and ponder it
well. 1t is high time, that this gentle
manly HberiiniSm he osborn of its locks"
and stripped OF its ermine; and that young
ladies', who would preserve an unsullicd
reputation, learn to say NO ! to the das-
tard who assumes equity exterior,
merely to conceal the rottenness of his
character, and the perfdy of his designs.
[N L. Telegraph.
tBUT HE IS A GENTLEMAN.'-Notl long
since we chanced to hear short dia-
loguc between Il mother and her daugh
ter who had Just arrived at the aye Of
"sweet siXleen," on the propriety of as
sociating with a certain individual who
was not named, but whom the mother
seemed anxious lhat her daughter should
shun. From what we could learn from
the conversation, it seemed that the in
dividual in question, possessed prepos-
sessing eXterior-dressed well-was ia
mliar and afable in his manners had
managed to keep up his head in what is
generally termed "good society" in con-
sequence Of "his winning ways" but who
I =, Il
wretch-a debauchce-and notorious
gambler. 1t was after these qualities
of the man had been portrayed by the
anxious mother, or warning to her in
experienced daughter, that the artIess
girl exclaimed as though she had hit up
on reason that more than outweighed
all her mothers obJections-"But he is
Il gentleman.
n These words struck our mind forcibly,
nor will the honest simplicity with which
they were uttered, be soon eilaced.--
"But he is gentleman ~ What then
/ why these cannot be vices--a gentle
man would not practice any thing that
is not proper, is undoubtedly the conclu-
sion to which the unsophislica,ed mind of
this girl at once arrived. How much
.msery-how much disappointment-how
much overwhelming sorrow and regret
. has this one short sentence caused in
the world How many hearless villains
are there who move even in the first cir
cles, aud whose characters are known
= to be Infamous, who yet hold up their
heads for no other reason than because
they are GENTLEMEN-thati is to say they
} possess the trierior Of gentlemen, come
ly person, afiable manners, and good
) suit of clothes. How few are there, es-
pecially among the young, who look be-
yond these accomplishments, in forming
) their estimate of character. Let a man
; be ever so corrupt, let his private char.
/, acter be what it may, if he only posses.
) ses these little external accomplishing en:s
it will not answer, under the present con.
5 stitution of society, to censure him, foI
: che is gentleman. But let female
! wander from the path Of propre,y-yes
} let her even be suspected Of it, though
: she may be ever so charming, this grano
, salvo "but she is lady," will not be
: sufficient to cover her failing. Such ,
CcIIIHCdtc VIII not sustain ucT--STt
= must be consigned to disgrace and inia
5 my. In what consists the dlierence?-
, Why is it that men may practice will
2 impunity vices which will not be mo
, ment tolerated in the other sex Tha
I there is false standard of gentiiity sc
up in society, there can be no doubt
2 That good old maxim Of Pope's, tha
q "worth makes the man." has gone on
d of vogue, at least with a very large por
r ton of society. Or else a dillercn
G standard Of WORTH has been set up
D which is To measure mans worth b.
= the quality of cloth he wears,-or th,
2 grace with which he bows.
s Thus it is no uncommon thing 10 SC,
: a man who can drink, gamble, swear
k and commit any other species of vice
d and still be a "gentleman." IL thes
!, men could be stripped Of their false plu
: mage if their real characters could b.
j exhibited in their native deformiiy to tn
: artless youth, there would bo but lltl
$ danger TO be apprehended from them. =
Z But the cloak under which their base