Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-03-08
A Sparkling, Humorous, and Sympa-
thetic Address on The Old Virginia
Gentleman" by DR.. Il. A. Holland.

al tn0 recent annual meeClng III Cul-
cago, on the 22nd of February, of the
Resident Sons of Virginia." the Pres
ident, Gen. N B. Buford, after a short
address, introduced Rev. DIR. Holland,
Rector of Trinity church in Chicago,
who was born in Nashville, Tennessee,
educated in Kentucky, and bas preached
in Baltimore. Kentucky, and st. Louis.
His father was born in Halifax county,
Virginia.
REV. DIR. HOLLAND
responded to this introduction as fol-
lows -
The old Virginia gentleman If we
we were in southern city tonight 1
should prefer to praise the new, but in q
northern city it seems to me equally
fitting that we should be reminded of
the excellencies of the old; for it is the
presence of the old in the new no less
than of the new in the old that consti
tutes national as well as individual
growth. AS much as the south needs
the spirit of progress the north needs
the spirit of conservatism st. Vitus'
dance is as bad as lethargy. Could each
section, instead of seeing only Its own
merits and the others faults, see its own
faults and the others merits, both would
be stronger and happier, and the nation
more organic unity. The pricking
numbness of prejudice at the nations
eXtremities comes from defective cir
culation Of Its blood. The south needs
a constant infusion of northern men to
freshen up it's slower life. And has it
nothing to give in exchange-no ele-
ment that would supply lack in life of
the north, and counteract our too fever
ish industry, our morbidly individual
istic and atomizing temper, our love of
change for the sake of change, our ma
ming to show with their increasing
spread how hostile they are to all per-
manency of institutions? Might not
northern character. admirable as it is,
be improved by more leisurely tone,
by higher estimate of the heart as an
organ of manliness, by deeper venera-
ton of the past, tranquiller accept
ance of the general reason that incor-
pOrates itself in customs, and even q
somewhat Bourbonic unwiIlingness to
be disturbed by every accredited opin-
io1 that, peddler-like, rings the door
bell of the mind, asking an opportunity
to prove its pinchbeck wares finer than
any hereditary gold of belief? At any
rate 1t is pleasant for US southern men of
the north to imagine that we are not
improbable guests of a people whom,
by living with them, we have learned
to esteem for traits we do not so
richly possess, and whom we would
requite, if possible, by such gifts of char
acter as are more distinctly our own.
THIS CHARACTER
1 feel less reluctant to praise because in
some respects it is an ideal of other
ton that gave it being has passed away
will be modified further by the indus-
trial ideas and habits which have proved
mightier than it in the massings of war,
and which now are nationalizing them.
selves everywhere from the lakes to the
gulf. But however modified. that char
acter must not be lost. With all it's
faults-and even they were closely re-
lated to its virtues-it had dignified
ease, quiet heroism, a -acred
freedom of sentiment and an uncon-
sciOus poetry of conduct which are of
eternal worth, and ought to be cher
ished the more as life tends to grow
more prosaic in the hurrying and striv-
ing of its competitions for gain. Hence
we may wisely celebrate this day by re-
calling that southern style of gentleman
which found in Washington weIl-nigh
perfect pattern-the gentleman of Old
Virginia.
Gentlemen there are in many lands, but
none ever made so much of his gentility
as he of old Virginia. With him it was
heritage, a fortune, rank. the top and
crown of creation. To cultivate its du
ties, manners. sentiments, instincts, was
his study, his delight almost his religion.
According to his conception of it, the
character could not be obtained by any
who were not born to its distinction,
though such as were so born might forfeit
their birthright by dishonorable deeds,
Any one might be honest, brave, upright
generous, gentleman like. but the word
gentleman he used in its strict original
sense to denote a man of gems, whose
quality came from his stock. Though
now and then plow-hoIse may win q
race, the course is for thoroughbreds, and
he thought the rule as good for men as
for horses. Blood told In pigeons, in
game-chickens, in pigs, in settlers, and
fox-hounds, in every living thing on
his plantatiOn-why should it not tell
as potently in his SONS and daughters,
and the sons and daughters of his
neighbors? Why should men alone OF
animal kind be irremediable scrubs
He knew no reason, political or Chris
tian, for such curse. He believed in
good breeding. and his faith was with
out pretense. An old Virginia gentle
man could not become sncb. The
deepest possible degradation of his pride
could not reach that depth. He had
little respect for mere titular rank. He
despised as vulgar all pride and ostenta-
tion of purse. He insisted without ado
on purity of blood because he believed
that thereby might be best transmitted
and preserved purity of manhood. Was
he altogether wrong? If he was, then
modern science is wrong in its law OF
heredity. But judge by the fruits.
Know you any community where the
same idea does not prevail, that has pro.