Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-03
Genteel Elackguards.

The reader Will say that there can Ee
no such thing as a geateeI blackeuard.-
That is true-but there are very many
blacllguards who claim to be genteel, and
who are SO. recognized in Society. This
is what we mean by the term 'genteel
blackguard."
Blackeuardism assumes so many phases
that volume could be written in mere
description Of them but we speak of it
now in its original sense, viz: the using
Of foul, obscene, and scurrilous language.
In this view of the term, a rejecting man
will be struck at the number of black
guards existing in every community
Look to your right or to your left, and
you will see around you vast numbers of
these disgusting persons. Examine more
closely than has been your wont the
breath which they eXhale, and you will
find it tainted with loathsome corruption.
Look for its influence on objects with
which it comes in contact, and you will
find that no fable Upas tree emits so
deadly, so withering blight. Mark
how readily the minds Of young persons
take the nauseous teaching. See them
precociously exhibiting toIent for sour
rility which should put their elders to the
blush. and reflect that they are but imi.
tating those whose example should have
taught them purer things. Think Of this,
and you cannot but wonder with us, that
obscene and scurlilous language should
receive so great an amount of indirect
encouragement from those who would
blush thus to soil their lips.
There sits a reservoir obscenity. Hear
him deal out his loathsome words with
fearful glibness. See him implant foul
germs in the minds Of youthful and eager
listeners. Hear his remarks in regard to
every passing female: hear his SANDER Of
his neighbor mark that he speaks well
Of no one and then wonder, with us,
that such thing should be tolerated in
society. Wonder that he is not thrust
from among decent men, and made to herd
with his kind. But is it so? Does such
a person receive the treatment he deserves?
Never. He is even courted for the very
SAVIOR of his filth He is called "good
fellow" . boon companion" a & fellow
VI IiliilltC ,jtSl duS IL VIC Slthtu d.
the thought that such mass Of corrup-
ton should be allowed to come in contact
even with the hem Of decent PERSONS
garment.
What powers Of computation can esti-
mate the amount of damage one such per-
son can accomplish Who can tell of the
broken, desolate homes and hearts. made
SO by his foul breath Who shall heal
the regulations he has destroyed! Who
shall restore the fair fame he has blotted!
Such man is ever slandcrer. His
'.ignoble mind
Loves ever to assail with secret blow
The loftier, purcr beings of their kind
and thus he will delame readily those
purer beings who have been most ready
to assist him in difficulty. Gratitude is
no part Of his being. His benefactor is
the first to receive the outpourings Of his
filth. And do we. as we ought,
Course the tongue
Whence slanderous rumor, like the adder's
drop,
Distils her venom, withering friendships
faith,
Turning loves favor"
No: but we laugh and are amused. We
should reflect that he
who stabs my name, would stab my person
too,
Did not the hangman's S axe lie in the way"
and that such person is a dangerous