The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-02-24
THE TRUE GENTLEMAN.

seems anxious TO bo considered gentle.
man, and to Ec gricvously offended when
called or supposed to be anything else. No
matter of what color lie may be, Of what
description his manners, degree of intell-
gencc, or cut Of garments-he upholds his
own prctcnsions to the aristocratic designa-
ton, and is really angry whenever an en-
vious or evil disposed individual calls in
question his quality.
In relation to the status of gentlemen,
we remember that, in our school boy days,
it was governed hy three necessary qualitica
tions-wit, money and manners. Accord
ing to this, the clever man, the man with
an account at the bankers, and the man
who could make a graceful how, and sup
port himself we'll in company, were all gen
tie or gcnteel. Man, according to the great
psalmist, lad been made Il " little lower
Than the angels" and by parity OF reason
ing. an esquire Tor entitled gcn,cman) was
only little lower than a knight "-hav
ing the text books of chivalry in view. In
the vcry olden time, we know it was differ
ent. A gentleman, then, was Il parsonage
who had derived his existence from re
mote auditor Of heroic deeds, and whose
Immediate offspring had kept up the credit
of the family. According to this estimate,
no one could be gentleman by himscic
The title was even denied to the root of the
family tree. Three generations would have
to be counted ere the blood became gentle.
Hence, the saying Of some of the English
kings, tha. though tAcy could make lord,
the manufacture Of real gentleman was
beyond their reach.
In the course of time, the ideas pertain
ing to the rank changed along with other
things. By and by, it was conceded that
the gentleman aoas a gentleman on purely
personal grounds; the money in the pock
ct Of one, the brains in the head of another,
and the agreeable courtesy displayed by a
Misunderstanding each respectively TIC
thing he pridcd in being esteemed.
Later changes have occurred in society,
the effect of which has been to give us a
sort Of Brummagen gentlemen. This is a
curiosity in its way being compound, in
inferior metal, of the three qualifications
already referred to. A little money, little
cIeverncss, and a little manners, have been
fused down and the result has been some
thing with aquizzing glass at its eye, fine
clothes on its back, lisp in its mouth, and
grimace of action in close neiyhbor
hood will. the monkeys.
lhls is mod'rn gentleman-a crca
ture whose life is Il dull routine of the fasl,
lo':ablc promenade, the ball room, the tay
ern, and the theatre. Polite enough, to
those whom he considers his equals, he is
ovcrbcaring and insolcnt (f allowcdl to
those whom he considers. beneath him. In
these respects, he is more of a boor than
amy OF the men commonly SO called
Were true politcness in the ascendant, such
a gentleman as this would frequently be
shown to the Street door in u very summary
manner.
TO our simple way of thinking, the title
of gentleman IS exclusively his who, with
every desire to vindicate his own personal
independence and dignity, is as ready to
conccde the same privilege to others. Such
a man may not bave much money in his
pocket, he may not be giant in wit, his
manners may lack the artificial polish of
the drawing room ; yet, TO all practical in
tents and purposes, lie is gentleman and
nothing clse.-N. Y. Mercury.