American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-08-07
From the Philadelphia Saturday Courier.
KEEPING UP APPEARANCES.
4 SKETCH FROM LIFE,


''Be Just before you are generous" We
were forcibly reminded of this apothegm
dav or two since while standing in the street,
in conversation with a friend. A dashing,
spendidly dressed individual passed by, who
gave self important and consequential nod
of recognition, which seemed to say-"how
superior | am to the ordinary world around
me!'
"Who is that gentleman" we asked
"That," replied our friend, ''is Mr. George
Washington Smith, who figures SO conspicu-
ously as the patron of concerts, balls, and even
of few shotcy charities"
The name was perfectly familiar to u.s.
We had known the man for years, through the
medium of the newspapers; and had enjoyed
abund1nt opportunities of becoming acquainted
with his real character. He was not without
good qualities; and in some sense was indus
trious, active, and enterprising. But his great
error was disposition to live beyond his
means. In other words, he was ambitious to
shine in the world, and become man Of
mark. He coveted the reputation not only of
gentility which is we'll enough, but of fashion
and Importance, the latter, rather Of an inflat-
ed than substantial character. AS already
seen, he dressed in splendid style, he made
liberal display in public, his sitting groom was
embellished with choice works of art; and on
being called upon to assist any ostentatlous
scheme of benevolence, he SUBSIDIZED freely,
AUTOMATICALLY.
But alas! that we must draw the curtain
and inform our readers that this pink of gen.
tlemen, this 'glass of fashion," and this
''mould of FORM" was disfgured in moral cha
yacter by that most deplo able of all delin-
guencies, disposition to incur monetary obli-
cations, without either the means or intention
of paying them. In brief, he ,Uas generous acith
other peoples property. He lacked the essen
tial principle of honesty and integrity. Yet
no man could be more wordy in talking of
honor, high sense of feeling, elevated no.
tons of propriety, and the numerous etceteras
Of courteous and polished phraseeiogy, which
are all very beautiful, when sincere, true, and
acted out as we'll by practice as by precept.
But the portrait sketched so briefly is by no
means rare, even in civilized countries and in
telligent circles Look around you gentle rea-
der-run your mind and your memory over the
habits of the hundreds with whom yoa happen
to be acquainted, and ask in spirit of inquiry,
if there are none among them who sacrifice JUS
tice for generosity, who yield principle for
show, who live beyond their means for the
qualification ola gddy and heartless world; and
who thus rush headloag to ruin with their eyes
open? The vice, instead of being rare, is a
common ore. 1t indicates the defect in our
moral nature. 1t proves that those who be-
come its victims lack nerve, manliness, truth
and principle. They are ashamed TO tell the
world distinctly, and in deeds as well as words,
4hat their means are moderate--that they cam
not afford this and hat-that their families are
large, with increasing wants-and that thus
they are compelled 10 economlze and live with
comparative frugality. No! Instead of doing
tbo,, oh in, osh nd m IL
dent spirt-they keep the promise to the ears
of their creditors, but break it to their hopes
they send their sons and daughters into socle-
ty, adorned with purple and fine linen--they
compete and vie with some neighbor of double
and treble their me1ns-they assume to be gen.
erous-and all this they accomplish at the eX-
pense OF principle. We repeat the question
have YOU no such cases in your neighborhood!
Are there none around and about you of pomp-
Gus exterior and gorgeous display, who never
theloss do not hesitate to defraud the mechan-
ic the baker, the tailor, the landlord or some
other CREDITOR We say "defiaud"-for when
an Intelligent individual makes purchase, or
incurs debt, either knowing at the moment
that he never will discharge the obligation, Or
adopting course subsequently, calculated to
impair or destroy his ability to pay-he, in our
view, is just as liable to be charged with dis
honesty as if he obtained the property of an
other, under circumstances rendering him more
amenable to popular odium, as well as to the
penalties of the law. This is all very plain
and dlstinct-but we SO intend it. Our re-
marks are general in their character; but there
are doubtless few readers who cannot point out
instances IN which they may be applied with
propriety. Generosity is a noble trait, When
it can be INDUCED with propriety, and in a mu-
nifcent spirit, its manifestations are worthy Of
ali commentator. We merely complain Of
of that description of mistaken bounty which
robs Peter TO bestow on Paul--which, in order