The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-07-20
Who was the Gentleman.
"Please, sir. don't push 500

"Please, sir. don't push 500
1t was in endeavoring to penetrate the
dense crowd tha, nearly filed the entrance
and blocked up the doorway after one o.
our popular lectures that this exclamation
met my attention. 1t proceeded from a
little girl of more than ten years, who
hemmed by the wall on one side, and the
crowd on the other, was vainly endeavor.
ing to extricate herself.
The person addressed paid no attention
TO the entreaties Of the little one, bu. push
ed on towards the door.
''Look here, SIR" exclaimed a man
whose coarse apparel. sturdy frame. and
toil-embrowned hands contrasted strongly
with the delicately gloved fingers, curling
locks, and expensive broadcloth Of the for.
mer. Look you here, sir, you're jam
ming that little girls bonnet all tew smash
with them elbows o. yourn."
Cant help that" grufly replied the in.
dividual addressed-''l look out for mum
ber one"
"You take care of number one do you
Wal. that's all fair; so do l." replied the
honest countryman: and with these words
he took the little girl in his arms, and clap
ing his broad shoulders against the slight
torn of.the latter, he pushed him through
the crowd down the steps, landing him with
rather more haste than dignity, in the
street below.
The young gentleman picked himself
up. but rather inundated by the stout is
of the stranger, and abashed by the laugh
ter OF the crowd. concluded it was "about
time for him to go home"
In polite society, the former would be
courted and admired, and the latter over
looked and dispised, but"who was the gen.
tleman?"
Onar and clustering days few weeks
since. young girl with small basket OH
her arm, entered one Of our stores. After
making few purchases she turned to
leave. Two gentlemen stood in the door
way. whose appearance indicated thai
they thought themselves considerable ii
not more;" whose soft, sleek coats and DEL
icate hands were apparently about the
same quality as their brains.
As they made not the slightest move
ments as she approached, the young girl
hesitated moment. but seeing no other
way, she politely requested them to stand
aside. They lazily moved few inches.
allowing her barely room to pass. giving
her. as she did so, broad stare, thai
brought the color to her cheek and the fire
to her eye.
In stepping upon the icy pavement, her
foot slipped. and in endeavoring to save
herself, her basket fell, and the wind scat
tered its contents in every direction.
At this the two gentlemen burst into a
loud laugh. and seemed to consider it vast
ly amusing.
Let me assist you." exclaimed pleas
ant voice. aud a lad about sixteen. whose
hands showed that they were accustomed
to labor. and whose coarse well patched
coat indicated that he was the child OF
poverty, sprang forward and gathering up
the articles. presented the basket with a
low bow and smile that would have graced
drawing-room "Who acas the gentle
MANI"
Boys! are all ambitious TO be considered
gentlemen. That is all very natural. but
remember that neither yours nor your pa
rents position in life, your tailor. your
boot-black, or your barber, can make you
one. The true gentleman is the same
everywhere. Not only at the social party
or ball but in the noisy mill, the busy shop.
the crowded assembly. at home, or on the
street. Never expressing the weak or
ridiculing the unfortunate. Respectful
and attentive TO his superiors; pleasant
and affable TO his equals; careful and ten.
der of the feelings OF those he may consid.
er beneath him.-Nashau Telegraph.