New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-09

Mr. Emerson. in his essay on Manners" re-
marks that the word gentleman must hereafter
characterize the present and the few preceding
centuries, but speedily adds that " frivolous and
fantastic additions have got associated with the
'name;" and Of these We suspect that Virgin
ian" and " slaveholding' are among the least en-
durable and legitimate. In fact, no social system is
SO garnished and furnished up with laughabe myths
and impalpsbe traditions as that which prevails
respecting the First Families. The popular idea
of all Old Dominion man-owner is that he is the
aggregate and personal embodiment of all the chiv-
alres-a hidalgo of the blue blood of Spain, with
something of the high manner of the Eau
bourg st. German, grated upon direct
inheritance of the polish and dignity of
Sir Walter Raleish-who presides with patriar-
cha not to say imperial sway, over the happy and
loyal retainers who cultivate his blooming estate.
This is the ideal picture; but it must not be scruti
nized too strictly; for Gilbert Stuart said OF his
portraits, - it is not made to be smelt Of
Looked at through the spectacles of truth, 1t dis
solves into straw hat, cigar, slouchlng gait,
mint iulep, coarse tongue, and cewhlde with
dolorous background of sedge patches, upon
which "stumptsled steers are browsing. Trav-
elers from the North meet only at rare intervals
with the open-handed hospitality which has been
trumpetsd to the ends of the earth. We think it
is Mr. Olmsted who relates in his very clever book
with what awful misgiving he approached planter
who had furnished him with a lodging and how
two dollars were received without the slightest
squeamishness The truth is, gentlemen are not
exceedingly numerous in any quarter of the world,
and quite as uncommon in Virginia as in lands
which have been deprived by DR.. Lords "Proyi-
dence" of the blessings of "Me institution" But
for the production of rare aud highy-inished
blackguards, as coarse in mind and heart as the
Fejee islanders are in person, We will back Vir-
ginia against the whole world civilized or unciyil
lied This is high praise, but let the facts be- sub
mitted, before its justice is disputed.
A correspondent Of The Richmond Dispatch, in
writing from Rome, relates with infinite gusto the
misfortunes of Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe while
travelling in Italy-how the steamer in which she
went from Marseies TO Civita Vecchia was dis
abled-how, between the last Damed place and
Rome, the carriage broke downtown she did not
arrive with her party until o'clock in the morn
ing-how they found it impossible to get into the
lodgings which they had engaged, and how the
driver left them with their baggage in the Piazza
de Spagna. In these incidents, which this spicy
writer recites with all his available jocosity, he
only sees, it is evident signal Judgment of Heaven
upon the deprayed woman who had dared TO calum-
Mate and carcature the estimabe and gentle
hearted Lesrees of the South. But We must let
him continue his comic narration in his own words
without profanely venturng to repress the full flow
of his exquisite humor. He says:
Here thew were discovered in the gray dawn, bya
party of Americans who CHANGED to pass that way.
Mrs. Stowe formed the center OF the group. she was
elevated several feet above the surrounding figures,
reclining on the top Of large brown leather trunk
with dilapdated bantbox under her head having
her feet wrapped in gentlemans snuff-colored cloak
Her attitude and position were h sss ana pe Of bs
comet or making astronomical observations her
sister Mis-. Perkins, reposed beside ana below her
Two gentlemen with crooked hickory sticks, guarded
the Diyines against the attacks OF dogs ana the I'M
po-tunities of the Lazzaron One of the discoveries
mischievously encouraged the ours while another ad-
dressed the beggars. he assured chem they might
look upon the arrival OF the disting lhdlduai
on the trunk as Godsend, the Sgnorina being famed
for generosity every petitioner Of every color This
information had the instant effect of increasing fem
fold the number and importantly OF the beggsrs, ana
consequently the noise and excitement OF the dogs.
We have given to this refined narrative an at
tentiye consideration, and must express our entire
appreciation of the dazzling and binding polish
which foreign travel has bestowed upon this party
of Americans" Of which the correspondent, it il
evident. from his minute knowledge Of the details,
was one. Returning home "in the gray dawn"
after having passed the night no doubt, in boozng
-, = mi yd. staf raffori1 these knlphts
encounter company of strangers in trouble. They
are Americans. They are, moreover, women.
Here. the reader will perceive, was COM
binatiop of circumstances afording an op-
portunity for the display of peculiar gellsntry,
and if was peculiarly displayed. A French.
man would have civily approached and would
have given his best advice about lodging An
FnpTsbman would have sworn at the beggars, and
rendered his assistance in removing the baggage
New .Engandsr or New-Yorker would have es.
teemed il a privilege to help his eountywomen out
of their quandsry. But these children of chivalry
were not content with common expressions of 70
card. and so e1temporize extraordinary methods
They hit upon the rare expedient the beautiful and
generous scheme Of setting the dogs upon the OBJ
eets of their pOhteness, and encouraging the beg
CARS to annoy them! Having exhibited these deli.
cate attentions, they went home to breakfast, and
that one Of the party who knew how to write forth
with dispatched to his believed Richmond full ac
count Of the quasi lynchng to which the author Of
Uncle TOMS Cabin" had been subjected in the
Eternal City.
Much as We must praise the Intention Of these