Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-12-19
Sparta, Georgia.
WHAT IS A "GENTLEMAN."

The clever author of the recent article in
BLackuood on "American Nobility" makes
what may be called palpable hit, when be
ailudes to the habit of gentlemanizing every.
budy whose sex will permit, whether the per.
son thus characterized possesses any of the
requisite qualifications or not Thus we have
the gentlemanly bar.keeper, the gentlemanly y
chief cook, the gentlemanly head waiter, the
gentlemanl5 ring.maater, the gentlemanl5
c. LII rl-y~., the genr1emanly hurov,jvuh1y
the gentlemanly billiard-sharp, the gentle
manly proprietor of side show, the gentle
manly this, that and the other, to the end of
the chapter. To such ridiculous extent is
this purely American custom carried, that the
phrase, "You are no gentleman" conveys an
objectionable insult; and nothing is more
common than for two blackguards to appeal
to the arbtrament of fists because the one ap-
plies that phrase to the other. The most con-
summate rogue that ever enjoyed the persua-
sive influences of a penitentiary considers
himself a gentleman, and is prepared to fight
if the title is withheld from him. The conse-
quence is that this title has, in our country,
lest all its original significance, and is distrib-
uted with reckless lberality highly amusing
to the intelligent foreigner.
What is gentleman, according to the too
seldom consulted authority of the dictionary
Worcester gives FIVE definitions First, "Ev.
cry man above the rank of a yeoman, how
ever high" Second, "A man raised above
the vulgar by birth, education, condition, pro-
fession or manners; person of good breed
ing and character" Third, "a person of
polished and agreeable manners, as distin-
guished from the vulgar and clownish."
Fourth, "The servant of man of rank who
attends his person." Fifth, "One who bears,
or is entitled to, coat of arms" 1t is evi-
dent, however, that some of these definitions
are not applicable to the dwellers under re-
publican form of government. We are all
yeomen here, in one sense of the word and
the humblest of us may climb to the top of
the political and social tree, providing there
ia the proper amount of brains and energy.
We have no men of rank, that is, hereditary
aristocracy consequently, no servants who
are gentlemen's gentlemen. Goats of arms
can be imported or manufactured at home,
and furnished in quantities, not quality, to
suit, for Cash or approved paper. The her
aldic device of any royal family in Europe
can be appropriated by any of our native
sovereigns without permission of the owners,
though ex.Minister Pierrepont was polite
enough to ask the consent of the British
branch of the family before displaying their
armorial bearings on his carriage and envel-
opes Nor are the remaining definitions
comprehensive though they are-entirely sat-
isfactory. Perhaps, indeed, they are too COM
prehensive to satisfy those who like to get
down, at once, to the bedrock of common
sense. For instance, the accident of birth
cannot make gentleman. George w was
called, by his fatterers, "tbe first gentleman
in Europe" yet George Nv was what the
member from Arkansas would call "a clear
case of dog" Nor does profession or position
make gentleman. Jefries was a lawyer,
and Lord Chief Justice of England yet
greater ruffian and rascal never polluted the
sweet air of heaven. Sir Robert Walpole
was one of the ablest of English prime minis
ters, yet he had the manners of a bull-driver
and the principles of demagogue Frederick,
of Prussia, was king "by divine right"
splendid soldier and brilliant statesman
yet he could and did say and do things that
W0ulQ Drlng Dlusn 10 tDe cneek OF d Coal-
HEAVIER. Calvin was spiritual Lord Of Gene
va, and theoogian of preeminent ability;
yet the language he used in regard to the bet.
erodox of his day, and the treatment of Ser
vetus received at his hands, prove him desti-
tute of the fundamental ideas Of a gentleman.
In American as we'll as European Christen-
dom, theory prevails in fashionable circles,
that it is moral and physical impossibility
for mechanic to be gentleman though all
Christendom worshipa the son of carpenter,
and follows the teachings of the fishermen
and the tent-maker. There is often far more
Of that chivalry which is an essential feature
Of true gentlemanliness, under the rough coat
and dirty face of the mechanic than under
the smooth broadcloth and perfumed whis-
kers of an ornament of "our best society"
When we have seen a working man, return
ing from long days toll, rise and give bis
place, in crowded street.car, to lady, while
half dozen "gentemen" were resolutely
looking the other way, the conclusion has