The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-12-25

ne IntlCIl uSCO NV iAAoaS
term gentleman, is now applied in
discriminatory to the male sex; but
70 what class it belongs, or ut what
age they acquire this dignity, re-
mains to be learned. III were call
ed upon to apply the term to those
who, in my estimation, deserve H. !
certainly could not give it to the ma
iority. This may sound rather harsn
10 some. but while / discuss the word
"oentleman." | will not object hear
mo any of you tell us what IS a IA
dv." While man is the masterpiece
of creation, and an exalted mahhooo'
the noblest work of God, still to use
the term gentleman for every type OF
that noble race, seems to my mex
perienced mind simply absurd. Let
it be understood that | am speaking
ofour co~untrymen in particular. II
we look around us we will sec those
| who command the most wealth com
monty styled gentlemen, and yet
..the rank is but the guinea stamp
and gcntlemanly traits of character
are not incompatible with the most
abjcct poverty.
Many more of the so-called gen
tlemen make a fine appearance ana
pass their time in luxurious indo-
lence, while their pockets are as
empty as their heads. They are sup
posed to be the latest living examples
ofA'the ravens who have neither
store-house nor barn, and yet are
fed" and Of "the lilies OF the HELD
who toll not, neither do they spin,
yet Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of them
To an individual of this class, the
words of the distinguished eastern
Divine: at is evident from gait and
appearance he has received most OF
his inspiration from the tailor; from
his manne you know he has been
practising before the mirror; he
brides himself on being a lady's man,
and looks so sweet, anI has the ap-
pearance of being n of Godeys
fashion plates" AS he takes out
his handkerchief, the fabric drops
musk and patchouly and "balm OF a
thousand flowers" and kiss me
quick" 1t would take about sixty
of them to make a decent doll-baby.
Even those who excel at the gam
bling table. and usethe most profane
language, may bear this name very
distinctly.
There are young men, mere youths,
who can never be satisfied that they
are gentlemen till they have learned
to smoke a cigar, or step up to the
bar and demand a drink. 1t is from
such as these would wipe every
yestige of that name.
A gentleman, l think, should be
strictly moral, honest, upright
truthful and affahle in all his man
ncrs. 1t matters not what his Occu
patton is, or how rough his apparel
let him have these principles firmly
fixed in his heart and he is a gentle
man in the trIest sense Of the word
When will people learn to distin.
guish between the mere so-callec
gentleman and the true and noble
man-between outward show ant
, inward worth? When will they know
that the broadcloth coat, gold watcl
, and chain and diamond ring do no
= make the man? Whyi is it that the,
will almost invariably judge by ap
piarances? for such judgment i
wrong nine times out often. iov
important it is that we should no
form opinions too hastily, but judg'
p ri ghteous Judgment.
II aay OF you should be oifeadeF
at anything | have said, | beg you
pardon, and hope that you will al
8 remember that it is only a school
2 girls idea, feebly, but honestly ex
pressed. +. u.
t - WbitIU0yth Beacon.