Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-08-07

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fashionable man from the polite gentleman
There is as wide difference between the TWO
as between the former and the bufoon Iae I
difference is indeed so wide that there Is no I
danger in society of installing the one Tor .
the other, unless it be by the fashionable /
man himself, who often tries to think HIM !
self the polite gentleman. Noman, however
is more fully aware than he; that there Is 4
higher style of manhood than bis. The
gentleman Is solid mahogany, while
TIE fashionable man is, as be well Knows
only veneer. The fashionable man avoids
contact with other classes as contomnating
and calls things good and had y fashionable
names. Preaching with him Is can't
prayer is puritan shuttle, n libertine Is
only man Of the world, and sot IS one
who has an infrmity that renders 1t neces-
sary that he should be seen before dinner to
be appreciated. But there arc men ana wo-
men whose lives are ordered from 'e'th'n'
whose ruling motive is love to God and man.
who are wholly conscientious and sell Sect
fcing, wio think it more honorable to Tor
give an injury than to resent it. They ex-
bibit higher style Of manhood and woman
hood. and between these and the fashionable
style the difference is very wide. 1t Is to be
/ observed that the fashionable man is e1clu-
size while the christian embraces every
known class and individual in his sympathy
/ The one makes, or tiles to make, the world
useful TO himself, the other to make himself
useful to the world. One is in spirit an
aris,ocrat and the other democrat.
Considering the second point under dis
cussion. fashionable social life, it will be
found that what is true Of one is true OF
many. To judge Of the character Of any
society we need to know the object pursued
BY it's members and that which it worshps-
If good objects are pursued and its worship Is
truly christian, it is democratic; ii opposed
to these it is aristocratic, and such IS the
social life of America. If American society
has no titles it is not becauses it does mol
feel itself entitled to them. Its fashionable
life has its code of morals, more or les
strict according to circumstances, but nevei
ND to the Christian standard. Fashionatl il
society cannot be called christian.
1t nowhere recognizes Principle or governs
its preferences by true standard 1t neve
recognizes true worth and the regal powe
of manhood as the best clam and title to so
eial distinction. No one needs to 60 far be
vond his own neighborhood to find men who's
sole claim to place in society is money, an
that many times won by gigantic fraud an
vet such men are received and honored. Tn
. only Christian virtue such society eujoins
the Observance Of that charity which cover
a multitude Of sins. We have in America
remarkable instance Of this, and an i!lustTa
ton. IN the institution Of human slavery
Fashionable social life has always been in a
lance with it. TIE fashionable circle
Of the North have always bowed dow
to and obeyed the fashions coine
bv those whose chief claim TO considerable
was their property in men. It's true to-day
and has been true throughout our preser
struggle, that almost the only element
northern society that sympathizes with ire
sJn Is the fashionable element. In Wasl
ington. even now. society mourns the a
sence Of those lordly swaggerers Of the Sout
from whom it has been won't to receive il
law. These men have made liberty, equa
ity, labor and Chris iani;y unashionabl
They have made reform and Democracy u
fashionable. There sits in the White Il u.
to-day an uufasai nable man. HI hand
=. nie free from frauds, but lie IS unH-l
ionable; through all the wear
months Of his public lie, and yer
weary months they must have been, D
has had but SINGLE aim, the restJrati.
J Of the national unity, but he is still uniasl
; ionable. Though with an army and navy VI
. roualled in the world at bis command, thong
t guiding calmly and efficiently the yarie
interests Of a realm comprising thirty mi
lions Of people, be is still most uniashi0r
= able man. Unbending integrity, patriotism
Il unfinching devotion to the great cause int
: which he has thrown his whole life have mad
u him questionable. There are fari iona b
. people around him who regard him with al
y -peakable contempt, even those who owe 10 b
generosity benevolence, their own immuni,
: from iron gratings and hempen cravats. An
God he thanked that in this hour of our Ma
lions peril, our President cannot be, nor b
/ society be esteemed, fashionable man
Fashion has been in our country the oppose
and reviler Of christian reforms. Reforms ar
democratic and are based upon a recognition
OF democratic principles, hence the people O
fashion can never be relied upon TO aid inthem
The regulating force Of christian societ,
is universal benevolence and brotherhood
so distinct are these from the maxims of 30
ciety that the christian gentleman finds lit
tie or nothing in fashionable society witt
which he is in sympathy. There is some
times a compromise effected between fash
ionable and christian people by which theI
associate intimately, but it is always at tht
expense of the latter. 1t is the agreement o
few so-called fashionable men with con.
sciences with so-called christians with tough
consciences; or else it is the old impossibili.
ty of trying to serve both God and man.
mon
We should be startled to learn that We in
this country, which we call a Republic,
have been governed by an aristOcracy. But
let us ask a question. How much for the
past fifty years has Christian social life in
Washington influenced legislation in Con-
I ornss 90 Nou knovr that osk the ouas.i,r,