Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-03-21
For the Patriot.
IVY LEAVES. BY RANDALL.
NO. MEN OF THE WORLD.

There is a certain class of men, who since
they do not possess the courage Of the lion,
are content at having the cunning and
crafliness OF the fox; in fact. these latter
principles only. suit their purpose; they are
in unison with their natural dispositions.
They live but for themselves, hence they will
stoop to anything that will bring them any
reward, let it he what it may; it is gain, and
this pleases the aspiration of their narrow
minds. They labor unfortunately TO
please every one, they have not the courage
to differ with you upon any one point, they
are exceedingly agreeable, and polite, until
they get you in their power, and then they
turn upon you, and devOur you with their
cOwardly herceness. Truth and sine 'rity
are with them words only, they heed them
not, and carelessly cast aside without one
thought, those precious jewels of the soul.
These very affable men, are skilled to
assume the appearance of all virtues and all
comcndable qualities. With many of them
a pretended unlimited benevOlence is a
favOrite gu;sc, because il tends most cffectual-
ly to conceal the reverse, which is indeed
their true character; so agreeable and polite
are they, that to view them (making their
them tree from pride, and hypocrisy. When
they have favor to beg ofyou, or when they
happen to be in company where perchance
you are the principal person, they will
admire, flatter, and show you all possible
attention, but meet them soon afterwards at
any place of sort. or on the street. arm in
arm with :, m distinguished person, and
they will pass you by; they either look
straight forward, or were so much engaged in
1tin thaU w
forgot you. You then begin to discover that
these prodigiOusly obliging, and agreeable
gentlemen, are nothing more than mean
unprincipled men of the world.
If you were to judge of them by their
dress of which they make an exceeding great
show, of their grand turn OUT las they
term it, and their clever conversation You
would suppose these agreeable gentlemen to
be generous. as well as agreeable, and SO they
are generous, but their generosity extends to
themselves only. This they find necessary to
the great end in view. which is to center
notice upon them, and obtain for themselves,
advantageous acquaintance. They adopt any
mode by which they can obtain or save
money, and they often times Overstep the
bounds Of honesty, when they feel sure that
1t can be kept secret from the world; though
they may be exceedingly liberal at a summer
resort or watering place, when at home and
among their nelShbors they are mean and
penuriOus. With all their pride, pretended
liJerality, love of show and pleasure, they
are also strongly actuated by the love of
money; they are in their own eyes of vast
Importance, and they feel that the rest of
mankind are but instruments for them to play
upon; and, said TO say, they generally sue
coed, and often times raise themselves for
tunes and reputation by deluding their
honest. plain and unsuspecting victims But
let them gain by these means what eminence
they can, there is time when they will be
sure to topple down. and lay before them a
crumbled mass Of rottenness and corruption.
Let me say 10 you my unsuspecting friend,
beware Of these men; there is hid beneath
their oily tongues deadly poison; although
pleasing TO listen to It's fatal in its result.
Whenever you are thrown in the society Of
those who are remarkably particular of
external appearance. devoted to the grace of
dress, and address, showing great friendship
for those they never saw before, continually
smiling, beware, they are but counterfeits of
a true gentleman. the metal of which they
are composed is base; aud as such they
should pass.
NASHVILLE, March 10Th, 1853.