The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-08-27
WHAT MAKES THE GENTLEMAN.
A Modern English Definition OF the
Term,

1t is common IN our day to speak OF
gentlemen of position, gentlemen,
of means, gentlemen Of the press
commercial and sporting gentlemen, etc.
1t was not in this vague sense that the
word was used by James l., who, when
his nurse entreated him to make her son
gentleman, replied that he could make
him a lord, but that it was out Of his
power to make him a gentleman. The
word does not now bear the in%terpreta-
ton it formerly did in England. While
ut one time it expressed the idea which
the term gcnhkhOnlulc does in France
where it retains its original Significance
to designate the members Of n caste,
distinct and apart-it has, in successive
periods, been applied to degrees more
widely extended. All classes now asso.
ciate more freely than would have been
tolerated in previous generations, and
men no longer dress, either really or
figuratively, in buckles and buckram.
The garb of the archaeological in
the days when it was the fashion for n
man to bedezin himself in ruillcs and
lace-is row the rule, and is apprGcia-
ted for it's %plainness, its comfort and its
practical utility. The ordinary costume
for gentlemen--free, easy, and devoid OF
outward show and pretence-is on index
of their mental condition. They eschew
stiffness, they abhor formality, thoydos-
pise all seeming. Their manners, though
refined, are simple.
The gentleman is n representative
character-a reflection of his era. We
may trace the tanners Of the times in
their various types in the warlike and
semi. barbarous, the chiyaIrOus and
romantic, the eifcminate and ornate, the
soldierly and scholarly, down to the
earnest, accomplished, and practical
specimen in our own day. As now I'M.
derstood, the term is indicative Of con,
duct rather than lineage-of character
rather than positiOn-of the qualities
that contribute to it's formation rs much
as their manifestation in the life. A
gentleman is something unique, apart
from any consideration of rank, educa-
ton, or pursuits. There are many men of
plain manners and limited means as
thorough gentlemen as any noble in the
land. The late Justice Talfourd, in
his charge to tho jury in IN action
wherein it was alleged that the defend
ant had said to the plaintiff, "Do not
speak to me. / I'm n gentleman. You
are II tradesmap," took occasion TO OBJ
serve: "Gentleman il II term which is
not confined to any station. The man
of rank who depOrts himself with dig
nifty and candor, the tradesman who
discharges his duties with integrity,
and the humblest artisan who fuIfills
the obligations incumbent upon him
with virtue and honor, are alike entitled
to the name OF gentleman, in preference
to the man, however high his station,
who INDUCES in ribald and offensive
remarks
We may have n correct conception Of
the character without being able to en-
ter into an analysis Of it. Courtesy and
simplicity are its leading features. The
most highly-cultivated men are ever the
least conceited, and we generally find
that the pedantic are men Of small nm
Outstanding. Chesterfield embodics its
elements in the term "po-
likeness, which he defines rs II benevo-
lence III t~riflGs, or n preference Of others
to ourselves in the ordinary occurrences
life. G~cntlencss, tbcfoundatlOnO OF the
character, implies II reserved power,
and it is to be distinguished from weak
ness, as it is from a passive tamcness of
and an unreasonable compliance
the dictates or the will of others.
1T %renounccs nc just right from the fear
Of their frown, and yields no important
truth to their ilattcry. A prominent
az the character is considerable
ness, which may Do sold "a .ano;nt 80
delicacy in the use of power-pllysical,
moral, and social. Forbcaraucc and
wisdom IN the exercise of this power
OF that which the husband exercises
over Ii wife, the father over his chill
dren, the teacher over his pupils, the
old over the young, the strong over the
weak, the master over his hands, the
poor, the educated over tho ignorant,
the experienced over the confding-
the gentleman.
Bashfulness is not inconsistent with
the character, and we are surprised that
so rare n quality il not more highly ap.
preciatel. The thoughts and feelings
of the retiring III disposition IRE not
less refined, although they may not be
expressed with the gracofulness of the
ready speaker or the impetuosity Of the
rattle-pate. This disposition frequently
arises from the mind running IL chan
nels other than the commonplace OF or
binary conversation, and n consequent
consciousness of inferiority in the art
OF pleasing. The assumption Of the
character il often but II stimulation of
the more agreeable habits of society,
aud only the veneer which hides de-
PRAYED tastes and vicious ~propcnsities.
Nothing more displays a frivolous, self.
ish, and vulgar mind than inattention
to the simple courtesies Of life, and
without this even profound learning is
no moro than tlresome pedautry. A
person OF this description says he can
be n gentleman when he pleases. A true
gentleman never pleases 10 be anything
else, and never, by any accident, dcro-
gates from this standard. He cannot
stoop to n mean thing. He never struts
IN borrowed plumagc. He never stabs
in the dark. He is not one thing to
a mans face and another behind his
back. Papers mo- meant for his eve are
sacred. Bolts and bars, locks and keys,
bonds and securities, and notices To tres.
passers, are not for him. He is a CON
slstent observer of the second great COM
mandment Whatever he judges to be
honorable, he practices toward all.
Perhaps it was because of Thacke.
rays keen.sightedness to detect, and
ms readiness to expose and pilIory the
snob. that he could the more g%enially !
describe II gentleman. There are many
passages in his writings which bospeak
his appreciation of the character. The
will remember his famous pros
pectus OF the Pail Mall Gazette, which, t
being conducted by gent, men, was to L
adlrease1 IN nantInnnn, ,.p - N