The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-12-12
Both sing:


The suhjoined article is from the
pen Of an accomplished lady Of Win
chester, and we copy it by request OF
friend Of the author:
"Itis to be regretted that the young
men Of the pres mt day--,he progyes-
sive gentry OF this, the nineteenth ccn-
tury, are laboring under false, not to
say erroneous ideas, in relation to tnat
which CONSTITUTES the genuine stamp
and patent of ofgentility. A pitiable set
Of loeicians arc abroad in the land, and
their conclusions will discover to us at
n single glance upon what cgregious
errors are based their premises. Veal
lude now to that class Of individuals,
who, coming into the world with little
capital or fortune and still less Of tai
ent, have argued themselves into the
belief that labor is in itself degrading,
utterly incompatible, either with high
social, or literary attainments; conse-
quently they have set their wits to
work to contrive if possible, the best
way of living without work. The idea
that manual labor is menial, is too pre-
valcnt in many stages of society, yet
we know not to what cause it is attribu-
table unless 1t be the moral degencra
cy oft times. Why is it that the
Iaboring man, he whose hands are hard
with honest toll, dwindles into such
comparative litt!cness when brought
face to face with those august person
ages? Why is he addressed in that
lofty and condcsccnding manner of con
scious superiority? Because, forsooth,
unlike his own presuming brother, he
goes forth in obedience to the great
decree and "earns his bread by the
sweat of his brow" 'ris the man
makes the calling, and not the calling
the man, and we dislike to see men
thrust themselves forward into posi-
tons which should combine energy of
character with brillancy of parts and
when there, content themselves with q
miserable mediocrity. We see persons
catching in vain for the need ofprofes
sional honors who might figure con.
spicuously in those hardy pursuits
which require strength Of muscle more
than Of mind. Young men nowadays
go to college, get together few frag-
mcuts Of Greek and Latin, drag through
Il course, manage to get diploma and
come out dubbed with title. All this
is to make them genteel, to give them
a passport into society. land poor fel-
lows how they need it,. We smile to
see them put on cxtravagant airs, use
pompous and sonorous language, make
a parade of their learning to the won-
dering simple, and ere long stick up
their shingle as practitioners, when
in many instances, perhaps, they have
about as much practical knowledge
ofwhat they profess as II grass-hopper
has of surgery. According to. our
Judgment, these are decidedly wonld-
be cases, and from all wou'd-bs profess
sioaql drumheaded doctors and leather
headed lawyers, we would say in the
| language of the Holy Litany: "GoOd,
/ Lord, deliver u.s." We do not mean
to depreciate professional men of mer-
lii by no means, but we are alternately
pained, amused and disgusted when We
see persons through vain ambition en-.
: dcavoring to move in a sphere which
nature never designed them to occupy.
Remember, worth makes the man, and
: we speak now to the gentlemen OF sle-
: oant leisure as well as to the latest, most
, approved and polished style Of loafer
, and by those whose opinions are Of
= most avail, you will be judged, not bI
Q externals, or for any peculiarly OF life
: trade or profession, but for the NOR
sterling qualifications ofhsad and hear