The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-03-13
Rough and smooth.

An idea is widely preyalent-it must have
originated in the brain OF a blockhead-that
'ne careful observance of polite forms, the
mere outward graces and courtesies which ex-
nioit themselves in the manner of gentle
man. are OF no sort Of consequence, provided
''o ma" mas the essential elements OF the cen
''enianly character. As If these eraces ard
courtesles were really ANYTHING else hut ,be
appropriate outward expression of ,bosa -
ward essentials. The fact that the outward
form is sometimes counterfeited BY men who
have no claim to the character they assnms
does not affect the truth of this position. anv
more than the existence OF counterfeit cold
coin destroys the value of a genuine double
eagle.
The people who advocate this idea are very
fond of drawing the contrast between one of
these sham gentlemen and the rough, untutor-
ed, but true-hearted child OF nature who new
er fails those who trust in him. "Oh y they
say, Il don't care how rude the speech or how
blunt the manners; it is the spirit of the man
look at" &c; all OF which might be very
good Ii 1t were question of choice between
these two. But they leave out of sight an
recognition of the fact that the well-bred man
Is quite as likely to be an honorable. manly,
humane and Christian man as if he had the
manners appropriate to the Australian bush.
or the refined locality Of Pixies Peak. Itmay
be very true that an honest manliness ofcbar-
acter even united with rough and rude ex-
terror is better than artificial graces oyerlyinr
a nature base and mean; but it does not fol-
low that there is anything incompatible be-
tween manliness and polish. To imply that
there is any such incompatibility is merely
piece of popular humbug, intended TO fatter
the self-eomplacency of the rude and unpolish-
cd by holding up the idea that their r,tleness
is an evidence of superiority, merit to be az
plauded. 1t is time we had done with this
sort OF clap-trap, the effect OF which is simply
pernicious. We are all of us rude enough,
ungracious enough, careless enough of tfe
pleasant courtesies and social amenities
which soften and smooth the rough pathway
of lie; aud it is the very stupidity OF folly TO
preach disregard OF these minor morals of life
as something meritOrious. The essential ele-
ments which so 10 make up the true gentle
men are, indeed, to be found in the mind and
heart OF the man; but it these fail to find
their natural and graceful expression in his
manners, they are not only stinted in their de-
velopment, but defrauded of their legitimate
influence and effect. The Boston Recorder,
discoursing the other day upon ''Christian po
liteness," said "many Jealous Christian has
ruined his influence by being a boor," and
many an honorable, kindly and humane man
given needless and unintentional pain by has
his clumsy disregard of the mere courtesies and
outward amenities which these Spartan teach
ers advise us to Ignore. The true gentleman
is one in whom the essential elements of
manly and generous character express them
selves naturally and harmoniously in graceful
actions. Anything less than this falls short of
the true standard, and is to just that extent
unworthy of imitation.