The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-07-13
Gentlemen.

What is a gentlemanf The question has
been put and answered more than once, vet
there remains considerable doubt upon the
subject. People are not disposed TO accept
the verdict OF the poet thar gentleman is
an individual who never does mean action
and never tells q lie, but conscientiously
performs his duty by his neighbor. NF
are they prepared to accede TO the conten-
ton that gentleman is u beng who comes
of a noble stock, and soils not his hands by
selling calico by the yard or tea by the
pound. Yet, il they were asked to define
what gentleman is the majority would,
probably, only be able TO say that a gentle
man is-a gentleman, or, IN other words,
an indefinable something. Nevertheless.
they seem to be able to instinctively point
out those whom they consider TO be gentle
men. Now, of what sort are the persons
who are honored by their favorable verdictf
Well, it is to be feared that the fortunate
ones are judged principally upon the score
of their exteriors and their clothes. A man
may be notoriously hard swearer, deep
drinker, and immoral-he may be known TO
be utterly wrapped up in himself, and to
have coarse aud vitiated tastes-yet his
claims to the title of gentleman are often
readily admitted, provided that he keeps
his face cleaner than he docs his conscience,
lates his speech in particular manner. On
the other hand, people who are virtuous,
well-read and Of temperate habits, are
placed among the common herd unless they
are masters OF those little arts which look
so simple and are yet so difficult of acquire
ment. 1t matters not what garb they have
on, unless they wear their magnificent APP
parel with peculiar grace. Indeed, you
may dress two men alike, and when they
are sent into promisouous company one will
be set down as gentleman and the other
as something else. Yet neither may COM
nit positive breach of manners or do any
thing exceptionally brilliant in the way of
politeness. They are judged upon tho
principle thata straw sutiices TO show which
way the wind blows. The angles at which
they hold their arms, the manner in which
they shake hands, the way IN which they
walk and stand, the method which they
adopt of using their pocket handkerchlefs,
and other little things, all tend 10 form the
Judgment which is passed upon them. At
the same time, it is doubtful whether the
judges, unless they are of strongly analyt-
zeal turn of mind, note in detail the signs
upon which the verdicts are formed; the
signs, so To speak, being more palpa0le to
the instinct than the understanding. The
signs that we have indicated are, of course,
supplemented by Others. When men talk
they are bound to show, To greater or
lesser extent, the stuff of which they are
made. Thus, after the two persons IN ques-
ton have relieved themselves of their senti-
ments, and have joked for II certain time,
the grounds upon which they are judged
become somewhat clearer than they are ut
FIRST start. 1t will be found that one in
dividual is prone to indulge in loud laughs
i'll. -
CONVERSATION is low if not absolutely coarse,
and tends to indicate that he possesses
somewhat petty disposition. The other,
however, though he may be petty ana
coarse-minded, has the good sense To keep
his pettlness and coarseness to himself, aud
TO assume that he does things on a grand
scale, and looks at matters in grand way.
Nor will you find him giving utterance TO
sentiments which, though possibly laudable
in themselves, are apt 10 incur ridicule. 1t
may be asked how it is that it is easy to
make some people, shabbily dressed and not
particularly blest by fortune pass for gentle.
men with very little trouble, while APP
parently more favored individuals can by
no means be made to do so, however much
they may be drilled Is there any difference
between the blood and bone of one man and
those OF anotherl Certainly the being who
|
a coarse moist skin, is liable to be set down
AS being of plebeian origin. Bat he need
uoJ Uf uvOvssiSr ~ -,,-s;~-l, .iaa-a hA-
ing many men who, though thus heavily
handicapped. are freely accepted AS gentle
mer. At the same time it must be stated
that the ,niIvidudl who is slim and grace
FULLY built, and has straight nose and
bright skin, stands much better chance Of
being declared a gentleman than does such
parsonage as the one whom we have re-
ferred To above. This, however, Is by the
way. The truth appears to be that certain
occupations and associations tend to form
in people faults of person, manner and
thought, and that these faults become so
ingrained In the persons whom they inflict,
that they grow almost Ineradicable. and are
transmitted from generation TO generation.
| Thus, the man who has to indulge in much
Tough labor becomes utterly slouching in
his gait, while he who is given to small
transactions in barter loses sight of large
matters in petty calculations. Bellies this,
it Is to be feared that those whose livelI-
hoods are dependent upon other, acquire
trucking demeanor which never leaves
them, though it may be set of with dis
position to play the tyrant 10 those 20 whom
it would be simply waste OF time, in u
pecuniary sense, to be subseryient. Thus,
when they leave their shops, offices and
warehouses behind them, they carry with
them, unconsciously perhaps, disposition
10 pay homage in quarters were IL can but
be out of place ana excite contempt. OF
course, the children who are under their
care are affected by the example which is
set them, and thus the taint that we have
explained clings to families with what
seems singular but is really perfectly natural
tenacIty. From all this it will be seen that
the tendency Of the age is 10 dub gentle
men those who display the most taste rather
than the best morals aud greatest sterling
worth. This may be ground for satisfac-
sion or it may not; but there is some com
fort in the thought that those whom society
Is pleased To honor are, after fashion, the
best trained Of their species. II may be
urged that there is an undue tendency "a
consider trivialties at the expense Of great
ones when men are in question; and this is
undoubtedly so. But il may be replied that
the instinct which induces men 10 do this
is a natural rather than an acquired one.
For instance; a cos,ermongcr who has no
/ love for arIstocracy in the abstract will, in
spite Of himself, pay much more Difference
TO one whom he recognizes rs gentlemen
than to an individual who, be feels, claims
kindred with him. At any rate, a very
obvious lesson may be learned from ali this,
and that lesson is this--those persons who
1 wish in the future to stand well Ia the eyes
OF the world must not eschew self-culture
while they are in pursuit OF wealth. .-Lofi-
don LiJeral Reoie1.
The RdIbIIify OF Hats.