True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-11-03
A LESSON FOR DANDIES.
Trying to be a Gentleman,
BY HARRY SUNDERLAND.

The efforts which certain young men
make, on entering the world, to become
gentlemen, is not very amusing to sober,
thoughtful lockers on. To become gen
ilemen, is not perhaps, what is aimed at
so much as 10 make people believe that
they are for If you should happen TO in
sinuale anything TO the contrary, no mat
ter how wide from the mark they go,
you may expect to receive summary pun
ishment for your insolence.
One of these characters made himself
quite conspicuous in Baltimore, a few
years ago. His name was L---aud
he hailed from Richmond, we believe, and
built some consequence upon the fact
that he was son Of the Old Dominion.
He dressed in the extreme of fashion
spent good deal Of time in strutting up
and down Market street, switching his
rattan boarded at one Of the hotels
drank wines freely, and pretended to be
quite q Judge Of their quality; swore
round oaths occasionally, and talked ol
his honor as gentleman.
His knowledge of etiquette he obtain
ed from books, and was often quite as
literal in his observance of prescribed
modes andlorms, as was the Frenchmau
in showing off his skill in idioms when
he informed company Of ladies', that he
had some fish to fry. That he was no
gen,laman, internally or externally, was
plain to every one yet he verify believed
himself 10 be one Of the first water; and
il was matter of constant care 10 pre-
serve the reputation:
Among those who were thrown into the
society Of this Il, was young
man named Briarly, who had rather
more basis to his character, and who, al
though he dressed well and moved il
good society, by no means founded there
on his claim TO be called q gentleman
He never liked L----because he saw
that he had no principle whatever tina
all about him was mere sham. The con
sequence was that he was hardly civil tc
him, a circumstance which L--,wa'
slow neither to notice nor resent.
II happened one day that the tailor o
Briarly asked him one day if lie knew
anything about -
"Not much." replied Briarly "why d.
you ask y?
"Do you think him gentleman"
"How do you estimate gentleman ?
psked the young man.
"a gentleman is man Of honor,
returned the tailor.
Every well, then L---must be
gentleman, for he has great deal to sa.
about his honor"
IL know be has. But | find as a gen
eral thing, that those who talk much o
their honor, don't have much to bra
Of" !
"Then he talks to you Of his honor 2
"Oh yes; and gives me his word a
gentleman"
"Does he always keep his word as
gentleman T.
The tailor shrugged his shoulders.
"Not always" he replied.
"Then should say the word Of
gentleman is not worth much,"
"Not the word Of such broadcloth an
buckram gentlemen as he is."' "
"Take care what you say or you ma
find yourself called to account for usin
improper language about this gentleman
We may have duel on the carpet"
,"It would degrade him to fight with
tailor" replied The man of shears. rs
Imay speak my mind with impunity.-
But il he should challenge me l will n
fuse to fight him on the ground That be
no gentleman
@Indeed! How will you prove that
"Every man must be permitted
have his own standard Of gentility."
"Cerlainiy."
~ have mine."
"Ah? Well, how do you meau
geutility Z"
"By my ledger. A man who do,
moi pay his tailor's bill | consider no ge
tleman. If L---sends me a cha
lenge, | will refuse to fight him on th
ground.,. :.
{" Good said Briarly laughing. T.
afraid if your standard was adopted, th
q great many who now pass themselv
off for gentlemen, would be held in Ii
tie estimaiion."
"It is the true standard, nevertheless
replied Shears. GA man may try to be
gentleman as much as he pleases, but
he don't try to pay his tailor's bill at Il
sarns time, he tries in vain"
"You may be right enough" remark
Briarly, good deal amused at the I;
lor's mode Of estimating gen,lema
and possessed Of q new fact in regard
L-'s claim to the honorable distin
tion Of which he so often boasted.
Shortly after this it happened u
L., made Briarly angry about SON
thing, when the latter very unceremol
ously took hold of the handle on |.
young mans face, and moved his he
around. Fortunately the body NOV