Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-04-24
HAaOAokahilitv.

There il no torn In common use no much
abused, misused and misunderstood a. the
term respectable" We hear of respectable
society; GrCspcctable company; respectable
citizen; a respectable neighborhood; rcspec-
table newspapers, and o thousand other re-
spectacle things, without receiving the slight.
est idea Of what Is meant by the term respect
able. The fact is, II Is term without any
limit to its definition. It means one thing in
one circle, and very different thing IN an.
other circle In n low tippling cellar in Orange
street, where the inmates are stepped in vice
and bad rum, greater insult cannot be given
than for one Of the party to say, snecringly to
another, "You NrcnOt arcspcctsble person"
And to say "You are no gentleman" in
wolves pair Of black cyesAnd bloody nose
The labOring man who supports his family,
and is attentive tO oil the duties which devolve
upon him, striving TO the utmost Of his hum
bic IT cans to MAINTAIN an honorable position
in society by educating his children, and
clothing them neatly, IL called q respectable
man. They who are pecuniarily above him
in the social scale patronixingly call him re-
rs he keeps within his humble sphere, and is
humble member Of society. For our own
W. TVkUIu ouCu y tuutb WH OUo VI U1C tlbObt
honorable and respectable men in tho commu.
nifty. but there arC those who honest and
honorable as hc IL, will not associate with him,
and consider themselves above him, not be.
cause they nrc better educated or more re-.
fined, but simply because they are able to
buy mahogany stuffed chairs and Brussels
carpet at- E.l..
The honest poor man struggling with pow
crty, and bearing up bravcly against the vicis-
situdcs Of life, who would lose right eye or a
right arm sooner thand0 dishonoFable action,
who makes truth his GNididg star, and virtue
and personal honor his constant companions,
is not n respectable" man because his means
will not allow him to throw aside scedy coat
or to mix in wcl.dFeGSed' society. On the
other hand, tho man who ran wear coat 0l
the latest fashion, can decorate his person
with jewels, and who always has well filed
purse, (nO matter how he obtained them,
whether by fraud, dishonor and tricks, Of tho
most odious kind,) Is respectable, because he
has NIL outward signs Of rcspcctablity. and is
received with the Wirnnest welcome into re.
spectacle society. lie, may DO rocking with
tho consequences Of unrestricted liccRtiOus-
ness, and his habits In this respect may be
well-known, yet respectable doors are opened
to him, fond mothers iRtyDduce their daugh-
ters to him, and young kNics themselves seek
his company, and will excuse or palliate hiH
oilonses by saying, "ho is young man Of
spirit, ard when he IL married and settled
down in lifO will outgrow all these little pee.
cndileoes."
WC intend to pursue this subject further
Nt another time. It lis fruitful topic and it's
discussion cannot iail to bC interesting. The
great practical use, however, Of discussion
of this description should not be lost sight Of.
1t is to Tx STANDARD Of reRpectability ty-not
such one as tho butterflies Of fashion or the
slaves Of wealth would approve Of, but q
standard that shall commend itself to the sub.
Stantial men Of the community who are found
in all classes Of sOcicty.-M Y Paper.