The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-05-21
[From the chronological Journal.
A Real Gentleman.

This term means one thing in an old
country monarchy and something differ
ent in the American Democratic Republic
There, where exists a titled aristocracy,
a gentleman is something less than lord
or nobleman Indeed, he becomes "a
gentleman ush er" to his master, his Roy
al Highness, or other high parsonage.
But in these United States, where we
have no titled Dundrearies, gentleman,
no matter what his occupation, inherit
ance, or wealth may be, occupies the top
round on our social ladder. With US, he
is q gentleman who is intelligent, polite,
temperate, well behaved and a good cit
Izen. 1t does not matter who was his
grandfather or his grandmother. If he
conducts himself as worthily he is as
good as the best
1t would be claimed, we presume that
there are degrees of excellence among
those called gentlemen. One may not
have had a liberal education; he may
not speak more languages than his own );
he may be farmer, a merchant, an arti-
san, mechanic, preacher a lawyer, a
physician, teacher, or even an editor,
and be gentleman; so may a city alder
man. a legislator or even a member of
Congress! In these latter cases his right
to the appellation of gentleman would
| depend on this integrity and what de-
gree of temptation to corruption he can
withstand
One may have the outward semblance
OF gentleman, while at heart he may
be vile counterfeit. We meet with
persons who have been well educated,
and who dress in becoming manner
who by perversion and bad habits, have
lost all claim to the title of gentlemen.
For example, Mr. A. comes of a racy
writer, and has all the elements of gen
tleman save one-he lacks sobriety; has
become drunkard, and therefore is not
a gentleman. Still, he claims this honor
ed title, and tries to keep up appearan-
ces. But how self-deceived he is He
does not realize that, being saturated
with whisky and tobacco, he smells worse
than skunk. His breath, his clothing,
his whole personal atmosphere, are
enough to sicken dog. But, neverthe-
less, he struts around in his shabby-gen-
teel attire, entertaining bar-room loafers,
telling bawdy stories, singing smutty or
bacchanalian songs; or he patronizes the
gaming table. seeking to pluck unsophis-
ticated young men who may fall in his
way, or are entrapped, as the spider en-
traps the fly. Is he not gentleman? Go
East, go West, go North, go South, and
you will meet this sort of creature at
every turn. Such live by their wits, not
by honest industry, and they go down,
down, down, beyond the hope of social |
or moral resurrection
Our idea of a real gentleman is this :
He IS intelligent, courteous, polite, tenn
perate, kindly, just, charitable, respect
ful, mindful of others, selfcontrolling |
and self denying. He is clean in his !
personal habits, uses no obscene. profane |
or vulgar language; dresses, not like
dandy or fop, but according to good
taste and common sense; neither chews,
nor snuffs, nor smokes tobacco, and does
not drink alcoholic liquors of any sort.
He is above a mean thing. He cannot
stoop to mean fraud. He invades no
secret in the keeping of another. He
betrays no secret confded to his keep
ing. He uses no ignoble weapons
in controversy. He never stabs in the
dark. He is ashamed of inuendoes He
is not one thing to -aaaur,' o-Snd an
other behind his back. If by accident
he comes into possession of his neighbor's
councils, he passes upon them an act of
instant oblivion. He bears sealed pack
ages without tampering with the wax
Papers not meant for his eyes, whether
they hutter at the windows or lie open
before them in unguarded exposure, are
sacred to him. He invades no privacy
of others, however the sentry sleeps
Bolts and bars locks and keys, notices
to trespassers, are none of them for him
He may be trusted alone, out of sight
near the thinnest partition-anywhere
He buys no offices, he sells none, he in
trigues tor none. He would rather fail
of his rights than win them through
dishonor. He will eat honest bread He
tramples on no ones feelings. He in
suits no man. If he have rebuke for an
other. he is straightforward, open, manly;
he cannot descend to scurrility. In
short whatever he judges honorable he
practices toward every man.
Ambition and emulation have a selfish
root. Aspiration for improvement and
usefulness is laudable. He is the best
gentleman who is the least selfish and
who has the fewest faults and the most
graces. As a rule, though a gentleman
cannot be pretty he may be noble, and
in its best sense, handsome, or beautiful
and grand. His actions will be gentle
his expression attrSetive, and the whole
aspect of the person will be impressive.
He who is clean, temperate, healthy, in.
telligent, manly, and strives to "do as he
would be done by" will not come far
short of realizing our idea of REAL GEN
TLEMAN.