Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-04-14
WHO IS THE GENTLEMAN?

WHO IS THE GENTLEMAN?
The answer Of this question, among
the Americans depends generally upon
the condition, feelings, and particular
modes of,hinking, Of those who under
take to answer it and consequently he
who is very much Of a gentleman in
the estimation of one person, is no gen.
tleman at all in the opinion of another.
A gentleman, in, the estimation Of
mine host, is one who calls freely for
all the good things appertaining to the
bar, the wine cellar, and the table, pays
his bills punctually, without disputing
the items or the prices; and speaks in
fiattering terms Of every thing about
his landlords premises, from the beds
in the attic to Betty in the kitchen.
With walters and ostlers, a gentle
manis one who is flush of his cash; who,
after having paid their master as much
as their services are worth, pays them
four times their value into the bargain,
"Massa Dash," says Cuffee, che be
one real gemman; he gid me half dol
lar for brush his boots, three quarter
dollar for hold his boss, and whole dol
lar for calm him gemman. And
he be first rate gemman: and no mis-
take"
A gentleman, with Dolly the cham
bermaid is one who says soft thing to
her, praises her good looks, compares
her cheeks to the damask rose, her lips
to red cherries, her eyes to the planet
Venus, and her waist to an hour glass;
and who, to prove the sincerity Of his
soft nothings, gives her occasionally a
sky kiss, gentle squeeze Of the hand,
and bright silver dollar.
A dandy's estimate of gentleman
is based on 4 foundation peculiarly
his own. He is not creature who
has any thing to do with money, sense,
feeling, flesh or blood. He is wholly
factious animal, made up by the tai
lor, the seamstress, the cordwainer, the
halter, and the corset manufactures.
He is, to be sure, creature that walks,
talks, and eats; but he does all these
from no ordinary motive. He walks
merely to show his gentlemanly figure;
he talks only because he never thinks;
and he eats for the same reason that his
tailor uses pading, viz; to fill out his
proportions.
With duelist, he is no gentleman
who refuses to fight duel. He may
enact as many villainous tricks as he
pleases; he may seduce the weak, be-
t,ay the con6ding, cheat the honest,
and murder the unresisting; all those
do not detract one whit from his gen.
prctensions. But if he refus-
es to stand Up and be shot at, he is no
Having complied with
this requisite he is gentleman every
inch Of him, adultery, treachery, and
to the contrary, notwithstand
ing.
Withthe gay miss, who never breath
es freely, except in the atmosphere
Of folly and show, gentleman is one
who exerts himself to promote her
wishes; who gallants her to theatres,
balls, and sleigh ride; who neglects his
business to attend to her amusement;
who spends his money to advance her
pleasure; who, in word, is pretty
much, if not altogether, lady's man.
But with the young lady's maiden
aunt, staid gentlewoman ofworth, the
gentleman is still different parsonage.
He is the essence ofrespectful attention.;
and does not indicate. by word, look,
or action, that he suspects her Of being
older than she was once, or that he pre-
fers the company of younger misses.
, With old ladies of revolutionary
times, gentleman who wears three
cornercd beaver; has his shirts ruf1ed
at the wrist. Who wears short small
clothes, and long waistcoat, with pock-
ct flaps; who wears silver buckles that
reach from side to side Of his we'll saved
shoes; who walks with good headed
cane; and who, in his manners neglects
no item ofthe ceremony Of olden times.'
The pit-a-pat heart Of a susceptible
girl of l6, tells her that gentleman is
a tall fellow, with a fine military cap
on his head; blue coat turned up with
red facings; sword by his side; a neat
pair Of whiskers; measured step, and
a elbow dye do, my charming miss?
You are the loveliest creature / ever
beheld--upon my soul you are!"
Miss Phillis, too-she hab her gem
man. And be brack man, trait as
lamp-post, wild white teeth, rolly eye,.
shiny skin, fatty foot, plumpy skin