The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-01-29
The Gentleman.

Every man may be Il gentleman if he
will-not by getting rich, or by gaining
access to that self-appointed social grade
that claims the exclusive right to give
the badge of gentility-but by the cult
walton OF those unselfish. kind and noble
IMPULSES that make the gentleman. 1t
is too rarely we find among those who
vote themselves the gentlemen and
ladies OF the day, anything to warrant
their ASSUMPTION. There is but little OF
the true metal about them. Personal
contact reveals arrogance and pride: and
too often II meanncss OF spirit ana
littlcness that disgraces human nature.
So far as our observation goes-and it
covers many years of contact with high
and low, rich and poor-we are con
strained to say that, while among the
poorer classes there is, us IA general thing,
a sad lack of external culture--of ntten-
ton to little personal habits that are not
agreeable to others, and which ought to
he correctcd-there is really, i'll the
lower and middle ranks Of society, so
called. quite as many true gentlemen
and ladies' as among those who claim the
exclusive right to those honorable desig-
nations.
The apprentice and the errand boy,
the man who digs II ditch or carries a
hod. the mechanic and the artisan, the
slop-rirl. the seamstress. the cook and
the waiter. may he as truely gentlemen
and ladies as the richest and most cult
waited in the land. The qualities that
make the lady and gentleman are quail
ties of the soul. and there is no monopoly
or exclusive right to these.
Reader. no matter what your condi-
ton in life. resolve to he gentleman
or lady Cultivate not only the external
amenities and grace of true gentility,
but the inner graces that give these
outer signs of their glory and their
strength.
PUNISHMENT EHouGH.-In the Police
Court Yesterday was a witness who had
refused to obey Il subpoena. and who was
accordingly brought to terms with the
aid of an attachment. When the Police
Justice asked him what excuse he had
to offer for his contempt of court, he re-
piled that at the time they wanted him
in court he was standing ut the altar
"gittin' married.
MAY it please your Honor" hurried
" intcrposed a bachelor lawyer who
had overheard the apology, 81 respect
fully suggest that the man is already
sufficiently punished, and ! beg the
court to deal with him mercifully III
view of his recent aflliction."
All" replied his Honor. $50 it strikes
me. You can go. You are discharged.
sir, and may Heaven have mercy on
you
CouLpN'T FETcH EN- OvEH.-A CORE
spondent of the Free Press writes from
Pittsburgh A genuine specimen OF the
darkey, fresh from "Old Virginia. was
on trial the other day. before Judge 81.
of Pittsburgh The jury had Just come
into court and reported their failure to
agree. They stood eleven to one against
the prisoner. The ''cullud pussun' OF
African descent, stepping up to the
eleven with polite bow. remarked;
Gem men. is dey no prospec OF You $
comm ober to my side?' This created
much merriment, but the stubborn
mules (dc eleven, as he called them e,
wouldn't bulge worth Il cent, and as
they went out to deliberate once more
and cndeavor to come to some agree
ment and verdict. the darkey was heard
TO saw: II don't like sich foolishness'
MERCANTILE absurlity-To present II
I'm 4. - ci,rbt tn a blind man