Smyrna times., 1870-01-26
MiSceII0 10 e o. u s.
What Makes a Gentleman

The conventional idea of gentility is so init
uateIy connected with riches, that we find il
.difhcult to think of mere virtue, honor, educa-
ion, and good breeding, without wealth, as
the proper attributes of gentleman.
1t is easier to say what is not gentlemanly
than to discover what is, and we commonly
6nd the vulgar acceptation of the word gentle
man admitted by the world in preference to a
higher standard of honesty and honor.
The idea that money makes the gentleman
is exempGfed every day Of our lives, aud in ali
manner of ways. Try it by a cheap expert
neBt Give cent to the beggar who waylays
lIOu in the street with professional draw
about hunger and cold, and you are overwhel-
lned with torrent of thanks; refuse Ii, and
lpl go home with curse upon your head. =
Assist an inhrm old lady into a street car,-
You are a gentleman, sir, she says, in
Tteful whisper. Give up your seat in the
ant box at pantOmlne to couple of noisy
1ddren, "" Sir, you are a gentleman" say
Y gratifed father. Refuse the customary
zortiOn of the obsequiOus servant of the ho-
aat watering place, and he tells you by his
Ok that you are no gentleman.
Somebody has cleverly said that in every
hck of M lrble is concealed an unhewn statue,
I'd so we earnestly believe that in every true
I'd noble nature lies the germ and spirit OF
lDbllity, no matter what the merely worldly
lsndition of that nature be; but for one >peci
ltI OF the true Carrara there are halt doZ
L counterfeit LIMITATIONS in mere chalk and
llOble. Your true gentleman is not thing o.
rchaSe and sale, and can no more be manu-
sdured than a diamond. 1t is a hard thinl
say, but halt your gentlemanly jewels
fght, and polished, and well set in gold anC
yer, though they be-are paste, sir, mer'
ste. " A king can max belted knight,
ag Burns, "a marquis, duke, and a that,
shat poor notion of manufactured nObili
the unpensloned exciseman must have hat
len he wrote that song. But there no bit
mess in it, not morsel he merely felt, a
true natures feel, whether clothed in velve
ttastian, that "a man a man for a that.
No man need despair, if he be in the mind
being thought gentleman; for, If hig
Ea lard of morality, an unfiinching love an
lactce Of truth, honesty unimpeachable, an
Rtue and Justice Hntainted, constitute, as
sltVe they do, the true signs by which
Ealeman may be known, then is there hop
MT ry one of us; and if we possess nc
ass at ributes, we must strive to gain them.
there is erected in society an invisible stan
aa OF gentiity and, # We possess it not euI
s'a, we have within Us secret tailsman b
nea to try the true from the false. Every
Wy knows gentleman when he is encounter
though black coat and kid gloves go bu
SWay ln making one, and many Pari
covers a sbob.
What is it?" asks Thackeray, gentlest {
ns, tenderest OF satirists, sharpest of cynicI
aaed OF moralists. just as the mood take
y, " hat is it to be gentleman? 1t is I
Ns Ofty sims, to lead a pure life, to kee
~ honor virgin, to have the esteem of you
SOH citizens, and the love OF your 6reside ;
good fortune meekly; TO suffer evil wit
aaaey; and through evil or good to mali
GGth awiys2 Show me the happy ma
S@ lfe exhibits these qualities, and him "
aute as gentleman, whatever his ran
SOe; show me the prince who pOssess'
and he may be sure of our love and To-
lest any Of our readers should be
Was TO the true gentlemanly metal, it ms
SHen to say, that though gentleman m'
oe little fast" be is neither a liza
h scofer at other mems religion, a lot
snowy dresser, boaster, trad
pnIianthrOpy, a drunkard, swindler,
,On at tayerns, nor frequenter OF gar
en- sssOa!ses- Uses Whenever you are in doubt, a
Ia. ~ your acquaintance may be any
@ ne be, then you may conclude he