The Republican journal., 1875-03-04
Written for the journal.
The Gentleman.

them, upon Inc stage OF ne, Il race VI Soh.io- |
men of whom Sir Philip Sidney and Lord Her.
bert of Cherbury were the fitting representa-
lives; this was the transition state. Then
came those whose true sphere was the draw
ing-room, as the tented field had been that OF
the true Knight. OF this species the last lndi-
vidual, and the best specimen of the whole,
was Horace Walpole. Finally appeared what
DR.. johnson said was the new species OF gen
tlemen professional men. Thus the character |
OF gentlemen, like the character OF every other |
class, varies with the changes of social life.
So delicate is the nature of those qualities |
that constitute gentleman, that there is but |
one exhibition of this description OF persons in
all the literary and dramatic fctions, from
Shakespeare downward. Scott never at
tempted it. Buwler, in Pelham came wide
of the mark. Thackeray just missed it in
Colonel Newcombe;'' but l do not suppose it
was his aim to make mere gentleman Of the
Colonel. 1t was reserved for the author of two
very singular productions, "Sydenham' and
its sequel, ''Alice Paulet'-works of remark
able merits and extraordinary faults,-to por-
tray this character completely, in the person of
Mr. Paulet.
Let me allude here to an error that is often
committed both in practice and opinion, and
which consists in confounding the gentleman
and the man of fashion. No two characters
can be more distinct than these. Good sense
and self-respect are the foundations OF the one
notoriety and influence the objects of the other
Men of fashion are to be seen almost anywhere;
"a mira and ,nora leYoan is tho rarpSt fhino
alive. Brummel was man of fashion; but it
would be a perversion of terms to apply to him
ga very expressive word in our languages
word denoting assemblage of many real viz
tues, and of many qualities approaching to viz
tues, and a union Of manners at once pleasing
and commanding respectable word gentle
man." The requisites to compose this last char
acter are a natural ease of manner, and an
acquaintance with the "outward habit of en-
counter''-dignity and selfpossession-a re-
spect for all the decencies of life, and perfect
freedom from all affectation DR.. Johnson's
bearing during his interview with the king
showed him to be a thorough gentleman, and
demonstrates how rare and elevated that char
acter is. When his majesty expressed in the
language of compliment his high opinion of
Johnsons merits, the latter bowed in silence.
If Chesterfield could have retained sufficient
presence of mind to have done the same on
such an occasion, he would have applauded
himself TO the end of his days.
I've may define politeness," says La Bruyere,
Though we cannot tell where to fix it in prac-
tice. 1t observes received usages and customs,
is bound to times and places, and is not the same
thing in the two sexes, or in different conditions.
Wit alone cannot obtain It; it is acquired and
brought to perfection by emulation. Some dis
positions alone are susceptible of politeness, as
others are only capable of great talents or solid
virtues. 1t is true politeness puts merit for
ward, and renders it agreeable, and man must
have eminent qualifications to support himself
without it, Perhaps even the greatest merit
cannot successfully struggle against unfortu-
nate and disagreeable manners. Lord Chester
field said that the Duke Of Marlborough owed
his first promotions to the suavity of his man
ners, and that without 1t he could not have
risen. La Bruyere has elsewhere given this
happy definition of polteness, the other pas
sage being rather a description Of it. polite
ness seems 10 no a certain care, by the manner
OF our words and actions, to make others
pleased with us and themselves"
1t is an express and admirable distinction of
gentleman, that, in the ordinary affairs of
life, he is extremely slow to take offence. To
conduct prompted by momentary wantonness
| and absence of reflection, suggested by no de-
cided feeling, and pursued with no settled pur-
4 pose, he scorns to attribute ungentle motive,
| and dismiss fha
ing it by consideration, and if he should hear a
! remark from person careless Of his speech
which he could construe to be disrespectful to
himself, he will presume that the author OF the
remark is swayed by the same exalted senti-
ments as those which dwell within his own
bosom, and he will not for a moment suffer his
serenity to be sullied by suspicion. ''Always
TO think the worst" says Lord Bolingbroke,
! meaning always to impute the worst inten-
tons. 81 have ever found to be the mark of a
mean spirit and a base SOUL
| In whatever society, or in whatever part of
the world, gentleman may happen to be, he
always complies externally with the spirit and
usages OF the place. A man of gentlemanlv
feelings would kneel at Rome when the host is
passing, though he thinks the whole affair ride
ulous, and if a republican, would repress his
political sentiments in the society of aristocrats
Ills constant effort is never to wound the feel
lngs of another, and he is well aware that pref
udlce can excite feeling quite as strongly as
truth. OF course this compliance is not to be
made at the expense Of honor and integrity /;
the difference between respecting peculiar no
tons, and pandering to error, is abundantly
wide; he should do what Truth demands, when
The man who obtrudes his own peculiar notions
OF right where he knows that they will offend
and not convince, and then eXtols his noble
trankness and incorruptible sincerity, is as des-
tItute of sense as Of good manners.
a gentleman is distinguished as much by his
composure as by any other quality. A par
cena, or one newly risen into notice. is inccs-
sanity troubled by the apprehension of being
IN some respect ridiculous, or not altogether
CONNIE IL .faut, or as he should be- A gentle
man always possesses Il certain self-respcct-
not, indeed, touching upon sef-esteem, and far
removed from self-conceit,-w relieves him
from the fear of failing in propriety. or incur
ring remarks for errors in behavior 1t is this
modest pride which gives him that charming
ease, which above all things marks his manner.
That true good breeding consists not in the
manner, but in the miRd. is one of those insipid
common-places that the world delights to be
told That sauvity and blandness of address,
a pleasing exterior of appearance, and an insn-
uatlng habit Of demeanor, may be perfectly
attained by one to whose feelings honor is a
stranger and generosity utterly unknown, it
would be absurd to deny. But there goes more
than this to the formation of thorough gentle
man. Separated from native holiness of senti-
ment, we rarely discover those courtly and, if
l may say SO, those magnanimous manners
which constitute high-bred man. Indeed,
gentleman, in the highest Specification of the
term, Is noble animal. Viewed as furnished
with all those qualities which should unite to
complete the impression, he may be considered
as the image of perfect man.
He has much that is valuable of Christian ac-
compllshment, he has its gentleness, its disn.
terestedness, and its amiableness EMPLOYING
IN the regulation of his own conduct the strict
est standard of propriety, and most lenient in
his expectations of that of others; "cautious in
accepting quarrel, more cautious in giving cause
Tor 1t; lending to virtue the forms of courtesy,
and borrowing from nor tho cuhct,poo of -