The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-11-06
WHAT CONSTITUTES A GENTLE
RAN.

Il Is almost impossible to analyze the
character, even though you may have a
true conception of it. And then, again,
there are as many ideas as to what con
stitutes gentlemen as there are people
70 advance them. But a writer in Tins
teg,S Magazine gives very good picture
Of one
COurteoy E1d simplicity are his lead
ins features. The most highly eultivs-
ted men are the least eoneeited. and we
generally find the pedantic men of small
understanding. Chesterfield embOdies
its constituent elements in the term '.pO-
!iteneSS, which he defines as a benevO-
lence in trifes, or a preference Of Others
to ourselves in the ordinary occurrences
of life. GentieneSS, the foundation of
the character, implies a reserved power,
and Is to be distinguished from weak
ness. as it is from a passive tameneSs Of
spirit. and an unreasonable compliance
with the dictates or the viii OF Others.
IL renOunces no Just right from the fear
of their frown, and yields no important
truth to Inslr faUvSry. A prominent
feature of the character is cOnsiderate-
ness. which may be said to consist in del
ness, which may be said to consist in del
icacy in the use of power-phySical
moral and social FOrbearance and
wisdom in the exercise of this power
of that which the husband exercises over
the wife, the father over his children.
the teacher over his pupils, the old over
the young, the strong over the weak. the
master over his hands, the rich over the
poor, the educated over the ignorant.
the experienced over the eCnfiding-
mark the gentleman.
Bashfulness is not inconsistent with
the character. and we are surprised that
so rare "a quality is not more highly ap-
preciated. The thoughts and feelings
OF the retiring in disposition are not less
refined, although they may not be ex-
pressed with the grace of the ready
speaker or the impetuOsity of the rattle
pate This disposition frequently arises
from the mind running in channels other
than the cOmmonplaces Of ordinary CON
versation, and a consequent conscious
ness of inferiority in the art of pleasing.
The assumption of the character is often
but stimulation of the more agreeable
habits of society, and only the veneer.
which hides depraved tastes and vicious
propensities. Nothing more displays a
frivolous, selfish and vulgar mind, than
inattention to the simple courtcsies Of
life, and without this even profound
learning is no more than tiresoue ped
antry- a person of this description SAYS
he can be a gentleman when be pleases.
A true gentleman never pleaseS to be.
anything else, and never, by any acct
dent, deruSates from this standard. He
cannot stOOp to mean thing. He never
struts in borrowed plumage. lie never
stabs in the dark. He is not one thing
to a mans face and another behind his
back. Papers not meant for his eye are
sacred. Bolts and bars, locks and keys,
bonds and securities and notices to tres
paSsers are not for him. He is u con
sistent observer Of the second great com
iuandment; whatever he judges to be
he practices toward all. Per-
haps it was because of Thackeray's keen
to detect, and his readiness
to expose and pillory the snOb, that he
could the more generally describe a gen
tleman. There are many passages in
his writings which besPeak his appreei-
alton of the character. The reader will
his famous prospectus of the
Pail Nail Gazette, which, being conduct
ed by a gentleman, was to be addressed
to gentlemen. Perhaps. he says, IA
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 sympathy for
the great and snalll We all know a hun
dred whose coats are well made, and
score who have excellent manners, and
one or two happy beings who are what
they call in the inner circles, ana have
shot into the very center and bulls eye
of fashion; but of gentlemen, how
manyl Let us take a little scrap of pa
per, and make out his list.