The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-09-10
A Gentleman.

We may have correct conception Of the
character without being able to enter into an
ANALYSIS of it. Courtesy and simplicity are its
leading features. The most highly cultivated
men are ever the least conceited, and we gen.
orally find that the pedantic are men of small
understanding. Chesterfield embodies its con-
stituent elements in the term "politeness," I"
which he defines as benevolence in trifes, or
preference of others to ourselves in the ordl-
nary occurrences of life. Gentleness, the
foundation of the character, implies reserved
power, and is to be distinguished from weak
ness, as it is from passive tameness OF spirit
and an unreasonable compliance with the dc
tates or the will of others. 1t renounces no
lust right from the fear of their frown, and
yields no important truth to their f1attery a
prominent feature of the character IS consld-
erateness, which may be said to consist of del,
;cacy in the use of pOwer-physical, moral and
socia.. Forbearance and wisdom in the eXer,
else of this power-of that which the husband
exercises over his wife, the father over his
children, the teacher over his pupils, the old
over the young, the strong over the weak, the
master over bis hands, the rich over the poor,
the educated over the Ignorant, the experienced
over the confding-mark the gentleman:
Bashfulness is not inconsistent with the
character, and we are surprised that so rare
quality is not more appreciated. The thoughts
and feelings of the retiring disposition are not
less refined, although they may not te express
ed with the gracefalness of the ready speaker
or the impetuosity of the rattle pate. This
disposition frequently arises from the mind
running in channels other than the common
places of ordinary conversation and conse-
quent consciousness of inferiorty in the art of
pleasing. The assumption of the character is
often but stimulation of the more agreeable
habits of society," and only the venger
which hides depraved tastes and vicious pro-
pensities Nothing more displays frivolous,
selfish and vulgar mind than inattention to the
simple courtesies of life, and without this even
profound learning is no more than tiresome
pedantry. A person of this description says
he can be gentleman when he pleases A
true gentleman never pleases to do anything
else, and never, by any accident, derogates
from this standard. He cannot stoop to
mean thing. He never struts in borrowed
plumage He never stabs in the dark. lie is
not one thing to mans face and another be-
hind his back. Papers not meant tor his eye
are sacred Bolts and bars, locks and keys,
bonds and securities and notices to trespassers
are not for him. He is consistent observer
of the second great commandment; whatever
he judges to be honorable he practices toward
ALL
Perhaps it was because of fThackeray's keen
sightedness to detest and his readiness to eX-
pose and pillory the snob that he could the
more genially describe gentleman. There
are many passages in his writings which be-
speak his appreciation of the character. The
reader will remember his famous prospectus OF
the Pail Nall Gazette, which, being conducted
by gentlemen, was to be addressed to gentle
men. Perhaps" he says, "a gentleman is a
rarer parsonage than some of us think for.
Which of us can point out many such in his
circle; men whose aims are generous, whose
truth is constant, whose want of meanness
makes them simple. who can look the world
honestly in the face with an equal manly sym
pathy for the great and small? We all know
hundred whose coats are we'll made, and
score who have excellent manners, and one or
two happy beings who are what they call, in
the inner circles, and have shot into the very
centre and bulls eye of fashion but of gen
tlemen how many? Let us take little scrap
of paper and each make out his list. "-7Ins-
lcy's Magazine.