The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-10-23
THE FINE NEW ENGLISH
GENTLEMAN"

the mission OF America to vulgarize
Europe, must be somewhat sghast at
the recent performance of the Army
and Navy Club, in London. The
philosopher of whom we speak thinks
his countrymen to be desperate vul.
gar, but in no club of American gen.
tlemen would such a vote as that OF
the English club re-admitting Baker
be possible. We doubt il any Ameri-
can gentleman In Londen, knowing
the facts. would regard an invitation
to join that club. even if it were per-
mlssible, as other than an insult.
The facts are simple. Baker was q
colonel in the British army. who COM
mitted foul assault upon q young
woman in q railway car. He was
tried. convicted, imprisoned for q
year. and dropped from the army.
His light imprisonment was due to
the fact that be MAS a favorite in
society. and the Duke OF Cambridge,
the commander of the army, tried to
spare him the disgrace OF being drop
ped. But the Queen fortunately had
different sense OF honor and of duty,
and insisted that man who was guilty
OF the most dastardly outrage upon a
defenseiess woman disgrsced the
colors that he bore. He was dismis-
sed, and after his years imprison-
ment in jail padded with fashiona-
BILE sympathy and succor, he naturally
departed for Turkey.
There.he became Baker Pashs, and
fought for the ally of the British
lingo. After the war he returned to
England, and the lingo world folded
him to its heart. A duke warmly
welcomed him to his table, and the
Prince of Wales sst:with him at din
ner. Mr.. smslley tells US that there
we're speeches in honor of the illustri-
Gus guest. The Marquis of Steyne
must have wished in his internal re-
treat that be might be present at q
banquet so grateful. No touch of
Thackersy's sstiric scorn burns like
this simple fact. This man, foilei by
brave girl in his vile endeavor, was
ssluted in lingo salons, and lacked
nothing OF complete social restoration
but re-admission to the club. Now,
club is distinctively a body of gen.
tlemen. It may be a military or
naval or civil or conservative or
liberal or scientific club, but it il
especially an assembly of gentlemen
in its particular kind. The one person
who might be suppos ed to be odioui
to such social fellowship would be
precisely the reprobate who vas
guilty Of BAker g of3nse.
II seems that for restoration to the
club it was necessary that fifty mem.
bers should propose him who were oil
OPT MON that the cause of his leaving
the service did not affect bis charac.
ter as a gentleman. Fifty members
of the Army and Navy OluD were o.
this opinion, and 359 members voted
against SO to sustain the view CT the
fifty. and to admit BAKER to the club
as q spotless gentleman, The vote
reveals the sta ndard OF the Army and
Navy Clab. An immense msiorIty
decides that man who is baf1ed oy
the courage Of u young girl IN the
commission OF an unepeskable crime
against her is gentleman. Our
American philosopher will surely
admit that that part of Eurup': Wlch
is included 10 Toe Army and Navy
Club is in no fear of being vulgarizeo
by America, for tbs same reasnD tha'
an added egg can not be spoiled
If this be geutility, let Us taanl
Heaven for vnlgsrity. This 10 thf
society, however. into which Ameri'
can snebs pine to be admitted YET
they know that in none OF their oWr
clubs at home would such a tansac'
ton be possible, and they themselves,
However obsequiously they eat tosos
and hunt tufts. would not be guilty
OF the offense or the condensation
The American snob initiates the ab
surdities of the English, bnr not his
offenses. He may even toss bis head
lightly, and speak with affected non.
chslance of Bakers dsstardly crime.
but 90 the bumptious boy sticks to the
cigar that nauseates him. He pre-
tends to think il manly, but the pool
fellows whole system revolts at it,
aad repels it. The innocent Ameri
can snob who affects the English
dress and speech and manner. and
laboriously attempts to reproduce
Enelish sports and customs upon oul
uaisvorabls soil, stops there, having
earned the amused smile OF bis sensi
ble fellow-e0untryman. He may aw
aw! and stutter, and wear snort
WASTED coats and tight trousers amt
heavy shoes; he may VIVID the mel
low horn as he eagerly follows tbs
feet enigs seed bag, and gRllsntll
emulate the elder Weller in driving
stage.coacn, and the British "sports
| liz dashing at polo; but be does no
give his hand to the man who cheRs
at cards, nor vote TO admit to his clut
, al infinitely foulsr offender.
Nobody o: course would hold th'
great body of Englishmen who bsa
SwitbouE abuse the grand Cd nam'
| of gentleman" responsible for th'
sotion of single London club. or TO-
the princely favor and ducal wininl
and dining of q bsfed Lovelace. Butt
&C. arv;a,1s slimpse Of the morality ant