The Winchester home journal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-05-06
RESPECTABILITY.

lhere Is no term IN common use so
much abused, msused and misunderstood
as the term respectable" We hear Of
respectable society; respectable compa.
ny; respectable citizen; a respectable
neighborhood; respectable newspapers,
and thousand other respectable things,
without receiving the slightest idea of
what is meant by the term respectable
The fact is, it is term without any limit
to its definition. 1t means one thing in
one circle, and very different thing in
another circle.
The laboring man who supports his
family, and is attentive to all the duties
which devolve upon him, striving TO the
utmost Of his humble means to maintain
an honorable position in society by edu.
eating his children and clothing them
neatly, is called respectable man.
They who are pecuniarily above him in
the social scale patronizingly call him
respectable-that is, he is respectable so
long as he keeps within his humble
sphere, and is contented to live and strive
through life as an. humble member of SO.
ciety. For our own part we regard such
man as one of the most honorable and
respectable men in the community. But
there are those who, honest and honora.
Bile as he is, will not associate with him,
and consider themselves above him, no,
because they are better educated or more
refined, but simply because they are able
to buy mahogony stuffed chairs and
Brussels carpet.
The honest poor man struggling with
poverty, and bearing up bravely against
the vicissitudes Of life, who would lose
right eye or right arm sooner than do
dishonorable action; who makes truth his
guiding star, and virtue and personal hon.
orhls constant companions, is not re.
spectacle man because his means willnot
allow him to throw aside soedy cat, or
to mix in well dressed society. On the
other hand, the man who can wear a coat
OF the latest fashion, and decorate his
person with jewels, and who always has
we'll filled purse, (no matter how he
obtained them, whether by fraud, dishon.
or and tricks, OF the most odious kind,
is respectable, because he has all the out.
ward signs Of responsibility, and is re.
celved with the warmest welcome into
respectable society. He may be reeking
with the consequences Of unrestricted Ii.
centiousness and drunkenness, and his
habits in this respect well known, yet re.
spectacle doors are opened to him, fond
mothers introduce their daughters to him,
and young ladies themselves seek his com.
pony, and will excuse or palliato his Of.
fence, by saying, "if he does drink he
IS bold about It, that he is O man OF
spirit, and when he is married and set.
tied down in lifo will outgrow all these lit.
tie peccadilloes.
We intend to pursue this subject fur.
ther at another time. 1t is fruitful top.
ic and its discussion cannot fail to be in.
teresting. The great practical use, how.
ever, Of discussion Of this description
should not be lost sight Of. 1t is to fix
standard Of respectability-not such
one IS the butterflies Of fashion or the
slaves Of wealth would approve of hut
standard that shall commend itself to tho
men Of the community who
are found in all classes Of society.
H. ,r,,cfa /Co RapEc boyo ra