New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-03-17
LECTURE
ON THE TRUE AND FALSE GENTLEMAN.

ON THE TRUE AND FALSE GENTLEMAN.
BY REV. THEODORE PARKER.
The Lecture in the Tabernacle last night
At the Peoples Course BY Rev. Theodore Parker OF
Boston, was attended BY the most crowded audience
OF the season, every seat being occupied at early
hour and scarcely place left for standing during
the whole evening. Owing to the GRO wdsd state Of
the house, and the noise Of persons going out who
were unable to procure seats, the speaker was in
audible in several portions of his discourse at the
remote parts of the Tabernacle, for which reason
we are compelledto give more imperfect account
Of the lecture than is due to Its brilliant and admi
rabIe character. 1t was received not only with en-
thusastic applause BY the audience, but evidently
with an intelligent and appreciatins sympathy Mr..
Parker said his lecture prepared for the meridian
Of Boston, and he felt some apprehension that it
might not be suited to the atmosphere Of Nsw-Yofk
but of that point his hearers must judge for them
Selves. He then presented a series of character
izatons descriptive of the vulgar gentleman, as dis
tinguished from the man who had received the pat.
ent of gentity from nature The true quality Of the
gentleman was his fidelity to manhood. II did not
stand in any artificial refinement in any conventional
grace Of manners, in any splendor of position, but
in fidelity to the interest, genuine manlinen which
forms the essence Of humanity. or the attributes
composing this, we may consider the intellectual,
the sffectonal, the moral and the religious rhevu
gar gentleman did not stake his reputation on the
possession Of either of these qualities. He was
intellectual only so far as was necessary for the ca
culation OF his own interest, his affections had no
expansion beyond his own personal sphero,-and as
for his morality and religion, the one was taken from
public opinion and the other from the priest. He
oils thA nx.fA mol
ton. The visitors who par!ook Of his os.ensatious
hospitality, admired his house his carpets his up
hOlsteTy his mahogany, bis brass, his or molu but
they had admiration for the man himself. Ii was
once said, Where lcom sits, there Is ths head OF
the table in this the head OF the table was
denoted BY he joint OF mutton Or the decanter OF
wine. In this part Of his lecture, hr +. drewa
vivid picture Of the progress OF avusar ankoe gen.
item from the obscunty OF rural lfe to the PRIDE
and pOmp of 4 wealthy metropolitan citizen. Inc
smooth-faced, rosy Tipped, stout armed COY leaves
the psteinal home, IN which he had enjoyed the
tenderness OF mothers care and Tie guidance OF
fathers wisdom to seek his fortune In the distant
city. He arrives as the scene OF his strenuous
effort and future renown. He looks a'out for
emplo ment. No occupation 10 too humble. No
drucgeIy Is too severe. He becomes Jumper on
the wbarf,-sel cakes and apples, or snuff by the
cents wOrth,-peddles ST coDd'hand shoe buckles
runs Of eITaIcs,-or curlies horses. Rising oy do
erees he obt aims situation as porter IN store -
Then he sttains 10 the dignity OF clerk or safes
man. Wo to the customer then who enters the place
fteOlvt0 lOb 10 guy Ills Uhf VI Booes tOho" MN
from the store BY and by the c,erk, becomes part
ner-involved IN the mysterious Co. which follows
the name on the sign His course is rapid now to
the bloated const quence Of the vulgar gentleman,
with nothing 20 Command the public esteem but his
pecuniary success As contrast to this, Mr.. r. de-
scfibed the gentleman, who relied on innate dignity
of character, and purity and 0siness OF purpose -
OF this Burns and KOssuth may DO taken as exam
pies Burns, when invited to spg a. an arlstocratic
merry making and being treated as mental, refused
to make one OF the company, refining WIN nooie
scoIn after be had sung to the satellites OF fashion,
The rank 10 but the suinsa's stamp,
The mans the sou d for q that"
A nd Kossuth, the humble editor, living IN mode3
retirement, but shaking the thrones OF monarcas BY
the thunoer of his elCqueBce, before no was ell
throned in the hearts OF Americans with the stars
for the sounding board Of his burning words.
Mr.. p said he might expatiats on the character OF
The true lady but II would only be necessary to give
gre ater sweetness loneliness and beauty to the de-
scription already given and the p0rtraitufe would DO
He closed his lecture amid peals OF ap-
plause.
II was announced tina. the next lecture at the Peo
los Course will be given BY William 4. Robinson,
Esq, on the " Celtic and Angle Saxon Races"