Western union. (City of Hannibal, Mo.) 1850-1851, 1850-11-21
From Ar,hur's Home Gazette.
Trying to be A Gentleman.


Trying to be A Gentleman
The efforts which certain young men
make, on entering the world, to become
gentlemen, Is not little amusing to sober,
thoughtful lockers on. To "bocome" is
not, perhaps, what is aimed at, SO much as
to make people believe that they are gen.
tlemen; for il you should happen TO insin.
liate anything TO the contrary. no matter
how wide from the mark they 90, YOU may
expect to receive summary punishment, for
pourinsolence.
One of these characters made himself
quite conspicuous in Baltimore few years
ago. His name was l.; and he hailed
from Richmond, we believe and he built
some consequence upon the fact that he
was son of the Old Dominion. He dress.
cd in the extreme of fashion; spent a good
deal oi his time in strutting up and down
Market street, switching his rattan; board
ed at one OF the hotels; drank wines freely,
and pretended to be quite Judge of their
quality: swore round oaths, and occasion.
ally talked of his honor as gentleman.
His knowledge of etiquette he obtained
from books, and was often quite as literal
IN his observance of prescribed modes
and forms, as was the Frcnchman in show
ing off his skill in our idioms, when he in.
formed company of ladies', as an excuse
for leaving them, that he had "some fish
to fry" That he was no gentlemen, in
ternally or externally. was plain to every
one; yet he verify believed himself to be
one OF the first water, and it was matter
OF constant care TO preserve the reputa-I
ton.
Among those who were thrown into the
society of this Twas young man
named Briarly who had rather more basis
to his character, and who, although he
dressed well, and moved in good society,
by no means founded thereon his claim to-
be called a gentleman. lie never liked
l., because he saw he had no princi.
pie whatever; that all about him was mere
sham. The consequence was that he was
hardly civil to him, circumstance which
l. was slow ether TO notice or resent.
1t happened, one day, that the tailor of
Briarly asked him if he knew anything
"Not much," replied Briary. "Why do
you ask"
" Do you think him gentleman"
SLOW do you estimate a gentleman"
asked the young man.
81 gentleman is a mau of honor" re.
turned the tailor
"Very well; then L-must be gen.
tleman, Tor he has great deal to say about
his honor"
81 know he has. But find that those
who talk much of their honor dom, as
general thing, possess much to 5rag Of
Then he talks to you of his honor!'
'Oh yes; and gives me his word as
gentleman
Does he always keep his word as a gen
Ileman!'
The tailor shrugged his shoulders.
Not always he replied.
Then should say tina, the word of a
gentleman isn't worth much,' smiingly re.
marked Briarly.
Not the word of such broadcloth ana
1uckram gentlemen as he is.'
take care what you say, or YOU may
DC called to account for using improper
anguage about this gentleman. We may
nave a duel on the carpet
'lt would degrade him to fight with a
tailor replied the man of shears. So |
nay speak my mind with impunity. But
{ he should challenge me, | will refuse TO
light him on the ground that he is no gen.
leman'
'lndecd! how will you prove thatr
Every man must be permitted to have
MS own standard of gentilty'
'Certanly.'
Il have mine
'Ah! Well how do you measure gen.
tilityr
BY my Ledger. A man who dosn't
pay his talor's bill consider no gentleman.
If L-sends me challenge | shall re-
fuse to fight him on that ground
'Goodp said Briarly laughing. I'm afraid
if your standard were adopted, that a great
many who now pass themselves oil for
gentlemen would bo held in little esima-
lion.'
.It is the true standard nevertheless,
replied Shears. "A man may try to be Il
gentlemen rs much as he peases, but if
he don't try to pay his tailor's bill at the
same time, he tries in vain
'You may be right enough replied Bri-
arly, good deal amused at the tailors
mcde of estimating gentleman, and pos
sessed al Il new fact in regard to L--'s
claim to the honorable distinction of which
he so often boosted.
Shortly after this, it happened that
L-made Brarl angry about something,
when the latter very unceremoniously took
hold of the young mans nose, and moved
his head around. Fortunately the body