The union Democrat., 1869-01-09
Gts lnian Qemurrat.
Who are Gentle m an.

Who 1entlemen.
In our intercourse with society we are often
surprised TO notice what 9espicabie and con-
tracted sentiments are yet afoat in the world
in respect To the characteristic marks of
true gentleman. There are thousands of in
disiduals who aspire to the reputation Of
gentleman, or who, perhaps, fancy themselves
10 be really such, yet whose highest, most
comprehensive notions of the character, are
confined 70 mere external accomplishments.
There are many females, too, who seem not
once 90 have distant idea of such person,
unconnected with coxcomDery of demeanor,
and that polished, courtly exterior which is
often assumed by heartless, abandoned liber-
tines, 60 hide the foul rottenness of their char
sciers and the baseness of their designs. Why
else do We so frequently see Individuals of the
other sex who claim 10 possess the most spot
less character, to be the conservators of fash
ioo, and 10 give tone TO society, receiving into
their parties and caressing. nay, not hesitat-
ing to promenade in public arm in arm with
depraved and prohigate wretches, as their
h0nered associates-debauehee who are
known to be dissolute, yes, odiousy licentious
in their habits, and this without blush
Why do ladies of quality. instead Of scorning
even the approach of such wretches, and re-
pelling their presence as an insult and atfront
20 their sex, evince even preference for their
society over men of exemplary characters
apparently delighting in their attentions, II
o they happen to be talented, rich and fashion
able, though they may have been guilty OF
the deepest baseness To other women? Why,
zoo, do the young Of thesgentler sex often
manifest such ian eagerness TO draw around
them the butterflies of ours, beings of mere
tinsel and foppery, to the exclusion OF the
meritorious and deserving, who seek compan-
ions for life, and not the glittering playthings
fan hour Why is it that men may practice
with impunity vices which, in the other SEX |
will not be tolerated for a moment or that
abandoned libertines, addicted to the vilest
species Of proiligacy, and worse than all who
; do not pretend TO disguise their evil habits,
vet hold up their heads in society as gentle
saen, while the female who is even suspected
Of the slightest deviation from the rules of
chastity, is consigned to everlasting infamy |
and disgrace The undeniabe fact is, that
tbe just old maxim of Pope, that 'ieoyfh
makes the man, has sunk into oblivion new !
standards OF character have been set up and |
the fundamental qualities which enter into /
che modern fashionable idea Of gentleman.
have less relation To innate honesty and worth. |
than TO the length of one Is purse, the texture
0fhis cloth, and the scrupulous exactness OF
bic grimaees and bows.
We believe that true gentlemen are con- |
fined TO no walk or rank in life The sturdy
blacksmith, with his iingy garments, his open
honest count enance hegrimed with smut. and
his rough, hard hand. SCARED with service !
more honorable than that Of war, has an inn
measurably higher claim to that honorable
name than the shallow pated fop. who skips
through college with kid gloves and a rattan,
L. l. a Il. i "A
ladies', aud takes his diploma with all the
blushing honors thick on his vacant head 1t
10 q false aud contemplate notion that unless
man eau boast high descent, or roll majes-
tically along in II coach embla2oned with his
arms, his name should he stricken from the
lists of gentlemen. Which class has. from
time immemorial, conferred the brightest
honers on the human race-the naughty aris-
toerat, who shrinks with strong convulsons
from the touch Of the honest poor man, and
moves with step that seems dainty of the soil
threads on, or the humble peasant who claims
no merit but nobility of soul? Whence come
the great lights of the intellectual armament
the stars that form the bright galaxy whose
beams dazzle the eve of every beholder? In
the vast Majority ofinstances they have emerg- |
ed TO eminence from the chilling depths of OBJ
surity, destitution and want Whose |
voices are ottenest raised IN successful vlndl-
cation of human rights, and float over noun
tain and plain, over ocean and land, till they |
vibrate on the ear of the remotest dweler in |
Christendom. Who are they that
Pluck bright honor from the pale faced moon.
Or drive into the bottom of the deep.
Where fathom line could never touch the ground,
And drag up drowned honor by the locks
The scious OF noble blood? The worshippers
os Bacchus and Venus, who fritter away the
hours granted by Heaven for self improve
ment in the study of the contemplate and
puerle forms of fashion? Nol They are
men Of low parentage, men who have buffet
ed the billews Of fate without dependence
save upon the mercy of God and their own
energes--the gentlemen of nature who have
trodden under foot the painted lizards -
of society, aud worked out their own distinc-
ton with an ardor that could not be queneh-
ed aud perseverance, that considered nothing
done while anything yet remained to be
done,