The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-03-31
From lhs Nav Y.k E1nrs.,.
WHAr Is A GENTLEMANi

This Is a question more easily asked
than answered,--but il is very important
one it seems in New York City at least,
nevertheless. A jury was called here, hut
a lew days ago, to settle a gentlemans
claims, and they decided him a gentleman
but if they had left on record the grounds
OF their decision, ii must be as valuable as the
Pandects ofJusiinian. Mr.. Cholson, NJ. c.,
insisted that Colonel Webb was no gentle
man, aud Col Webb once insisted that
Wood the signer, was no gentleman, and
Mr.. Cilley died, because he would not own
that Col. Webb was gentleman. Sure
then, 1t must be very important TO decide
what makes the gentleman. Blackstone,
however has but little on that subject.
Chancellor Kent has not word. Judge
Story has not even discussed the subject.
Recorder Rlker has not spoken, but never
theless, it is of the first importance to know
what makes gentleman.
A gentleman wears a clean shirt, a broad
cloth coat:-and white gloves, some one
says, and dress, thus makes gentleman.
Mr.. Clay then; is no gentleman, for he is
very much of sloven often, and therefore,
he can't be gentleman General Jackson
was no gentleman. Mr.. Van Buren,, by the
same rule, when he first came from Europe,
was the first of gentlemen with fine coach
livery boys, splendid horses, aud all the
paraphernalia of a gentleman. But the
pickpockets that often throng in crowds,
that make a push Il a dash TO stuff pocket
| according 10 rule,--are fine looking gentle.
men,-with ruffle shirt, kid gloves and gold
chains, all caparisoned as gentlemen. An
English livery servent is thus gentleman,
and thus as he 10 often more brilliantly
than his master,--his master often having
about him something of the slouch, the Il
very servent is mole of the gentleman. Tai
lor boys are always the best dressed men in
the world, and ergo, the most ofthe gentle
man. Dandies are gentlemen in eetrenaes,
which means the perfection of gentlemen.
This rulc went work. And yet what shall
we do, for all the world knows-there is
something or other in the clothes, by which
the world judges Of gentleman. Go to
the hotel for example, in homespun coat.
in cowhide boots,-(without straps!) and
they will thrust you into the garret, (even
the waiter boys too) among their Tom cats
and kittens,-but open your trunk, put on
your broadcloth, and don't forget youl
straps and they will cay give the stranger
il may be aparlor, r,-forhe is a gentleman
Clothes there make the gentleman. The
broadcloth forms the man. A Chesterfield
in frock, Crichton in homespun.--a
male Taglonia in boots,-none of these
in dance, could be gentleman. The
first thing labcrer does on Sunday, is &c
put on clean shirt, and his go-to-meetino
| coat--and then he is gentleman. Now
go TO a ball, without close-bodied coat
without pair Of pumps, and a pair of clear
| gcves,-and every body in the room will
vote you are no gentleman. A French
woman pretends TO tell a gentleman onl,
by his gloves his teeth, and if a wo
man was not we'll should boin chausse. am
we'll clad bsin mise, all Paris would cry ou
she was no lady.
| A gentleman, John Bull saws, is mar
Of gentle blood, Blood, by the way, doe,
not amount TO much in this country,
cept for hogs and horses. We are all o
the Royal blood here, a hereditary aristoc
racy, in which every loafer has in him
bit of the King, and parcel of the king
dom. Gentle blood, then, with us doe
not amount to much, TO make out the gen
teman. We are all Esquires, all G Colonels
all Generals, all something or other in
small way. AS for gentle blood. take th
President Of the United States for example
: Who can tell where he came 'front.' how
gentle his blood is, or what courses in il
Henry Clay boasts that he inherited nothin,
; but infancy, indigence, and ignorance
Daniel Webster was but New Hampsbir
loafer boy, good for nothing TO make ston
wall, or stump fence--and so his fathe
sent him 10 school. Neither of them ha
in them bit of that blood John Bull call
gentle. So we came to the conclusion tba
however important blood may be for hor
ses, it is nothing concerned in making III
gentleman.
, But what does make the gentleman,
True il is the gravest question on cart
, when men consent to be shot at by rides
; and seeK to shoot every body that averse
they are not gentlemen. 1t is a grave fact
that a man can lie, and cheat, and then pas
off for gentleman. He may have done
: thousand criminal acts at home and abroad
! and yet pass for gentleman. Col, Bur
was gentleman, an accomplished gentle
/ N 4 !