The New York herald., 1867-01-27
THE JEROME FIRST GENTLEMAN" meDAl-wHAT coNsTl-
TUTES A GENTLEMAN
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD

PRINCETON N. j., JAM 49, 1857.
Will you permit inquirer, who present
wasting the midnight o-or TO Dodernize the phrase.
burning the company's gas-over his dacyls and iam-
bcs in the classic shades Of Princeton,
formation your upon subject which he feels
deep and absorbing INTEREST," aware that the
stirring events Of active life engross your whole ume
and that you have much to do in keeping down the
copperheads ono side and the niggerheads on the
other and helping TO steer the ship OF state safely
through the rocks and shoals Of reconstruction into the
habor of permanent Union and safety, TO render It
impossible that you devote much attention TO the
smaller matters which ordinary mortals but
know not where seek reliable informant ion
outside the columns Of the HERAD therefore come to
the fountain head in my dilemma and beg you tell
me what is q gcntlemanf
You viii at perceive that am an aspirant for the
medal to be purchased with the interest OF 900 OF
United States ak per bonds Princeton
College by Nj. Leonard W. Jerome, and be bestowed
of his class be the "nrst gcutIeman' his
Now, while have vague idea Of what gentleman Is.
il to be awarded very nice distinctions and discrina.
tions likely to be made. Are 10 have standard
royal blood Of the uar.s n his veins and who sxceed
all others. whether int scholastic contests with grave
philosophers and divnes OF in deeds Of arms with pro-
fessionnl gadat0rs II So fear shall all 60 begging
for the medal have searched the old authorities for
enlightenment on this momentous question, but con-
fess they only render my confusion the complete
An old English law book defines a gentleman q
ollows:-"Whosoever studieth the laws of the realm,
who studeth in the Universities who professeth the
liberal sciences and TO be shorti who live idly
without manual labor and well bear the port charge and
cosn,enance OF gentleman he shall be called master
cues presented here II all the lawyers in this country
10 be 81 taken tor gentlemen" thon. Mr HKRALD,
Heaven guard you and from being taken for gente-
Again. In my small experience Of life, have be.
come acquainted with many who manage to "lise idly
and without manual labor who would scarcely come
up TO respected and reverend Presidents idea Of
what gentleman ought TO be.
have read that George w., OF England; called
"ihe first gentleman Europe His wives may have
had some doubt a. to his right to the distinction can
old king, aptly described by tho Duke OF Wellington
as "most extraordinary compound Of talent, wit,
buoonery, obstinacy aod good feeling will ever fur
nish model for a "1rst gentleman mt Princeton.
presume Mr. Jerome will not Insist upon a line OF
ancestors ong drawn OUT as requisite for his first
gentleman He has too much good for that He
has read fennysor. and he remembers the lnes:-
And trust me- Clara We're do We're,
The grand old gardener and his wife
Smile the claims of long descent
Besides, with US genealogical trees are mainly Of
stunpy growth, and the roots always found
the puIcst SOIL We have bad warning Of this In the
lines OF poct:
You'd better take care my snobbisb friend
Your family line how you ascend
Los. Jos ns & ! wsTsS ssS.sn 81 ,he se.a,s o.sr end
So will take for granted that the accident OF birth
s to have nothing do with the Jerome medal. Nor
viii believe that the accident OF wealth WIZ DO taken
into account popular lady writer has said
whom do dub Is genemens The knave the fool ,hs
brute,
Sf he Of gold and courtly suit
This true OF outside world but inside this temple
OF learning trust neither the weight OF his purse nor
the hneness Of his brcadcloth will qualify graduating
Senior for the 'irst gentleman medal
There many OF us here Mr.. Editor, who know how
TO conduct ourselves In society and who try TO DO kind
and agreeable with associates and neghbors. But
what else shall be required to dor Must we lay In
stock OF bell handles Knockers street lamps and police
mems clubs sy mbos OF prowessy Must we keep
fast horse any other fasti artcleY or course wo
light duel that Is prohibited by the law;
but must become experts at bfuising, as TO hold
own with any obsreperous fellow, whether butcher
boy or stock broker who chooses 70 put himself in
our way for knockdownf We look abroad at our pub.
lie men TO find model Of first gentleman but alas
We gain but little by that Do we hnd At the head OF
the nation, In the White HouseS DO we discover u in
the senate or the House OF Representatives. Wei, i
leave IL TO your Judgment and candor TO answer tho
| questions yourself
In conclusion must beg Mr.. Editor that you will aid
me with your advice Al present can but recall the
words OF that quaint but sound old writer Hare and re
solve, until better informed to take them as my guide
"A Christian is God Almighy's gentleman; gentle
man In the superficial vulgar OF understanding the
word ~ the devils Christian but TO throw away these
polished and too current countee tor something val
uabie and sterling the real gentleman should be gen.
tenan in everything; at least in everything that do
pends upon himsefn carnage, temper. constructions,
aims and dcsiresn PRINCETON.