St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28
What is a Gentleman ?

1t is almost a definition of a gentle
man to say he is one who never iDficts
pain. This description is both refined
and, as far as it goes, accurate. He is
mainly occupied in merely removing
the obstacles which hinder the free and
unem barrased action of those about
him and be cOncurs with their move
ments rather than takes the initiative
himself. His benefits may be consider
ed as parallel to what are called com
forts or cOnveniences in arrangements
of personal nature; like an easy chair
or good fire, which do their pal, in
dispelling cold and fatigue, though Da-
ture provides animal heat without
them. The true gentleman in like man
ner carefully avoids whatever may
cause a jar or Jolt in the minds of
those with whom he is cast all clash
ing of opinion or collision of feeling, all
restraint, or suspicion, or gloom, or re-
sentiment; his great concern being to
make every one at their ease and at
home. He has his eyes on all his COM
pany he is tender toward the bashful,
gentle toward the distant, and merciful
to the absurd !; he guards against un-
seasOnable allusiOus or topics which
may irritate he is seldom prominent
in conveI satiOn, and never wearisome.
He makes light of favors while he does
them, and seems to be receiving when
he is comforting. He never speaks of
himself except when compelled, never
defends himself by mere retOrt; he
has no ears for SANDER or gossip, is
scrupulOus in imputiug motives to those
who interfere with him, and interprets
every thing for the best. He is never
mean or little in his disputes, never
takes unfair advantage, never mistakes
personalities or sharp sayings for argu-
meDts or insinuates evil which he dare
not say out. From a long-sighted
prudence, he observes the maxim OF
the ancient sage, that we should con
duct ourselves toward our enemy as il
he were one day to be our friend. He
has too much good sense to be atfront-
ed at insults, and is too well employed
to remember injuries. He is patient
fOrbearing and resigned on philOsOphi-
cal principles. He submits to pain, be-
cause it is inevitable; ; to bereavement
because it is his destiny. If he engage.
in controversy of any kind his disci-
| plined intellect preserves him from the
laundering discOurtesy of better, per
haps, but less educated minds, who, LIKE
blunt weapons, tear and hack instead
of cutting clean, who mistake the point
| in argument, waste their strength OF
trihes, miscOnceive their adversary, ant
leave the question more involved thar
they find it. He may be right or wrOny
in his opinion, but he is too clear-head
ed to be unjust; he is as simple as IN
is foTcible, and as brief as he is deci
sive. Nowhere shall we find create
candOr, consideration, indulgence. II
throws himself into the minds of hi
opponents, he accounts for their mis-
takes, lie knows the weakness of human
reason as well as its strength, its pro
vince and its limits. If he be an unbe
lever, he will be too profound an'
large minded to Iidicule religion or t
act against it he is too wise to be
dOgmatist or fanatic in his infidelity
He respects piety and devotion he eve
supports institutions as venerable beau
tiful, or useful, to which he does not as
sent he honOrs the ministers of reli
giOn, and it contents him to decline it
mysteries without assailiug or denOunC
ing them. He is a friend of religion
toleration, and that not only becaus
his philosophy has taught him to loo
on all forms of faith with an impartii
eye, but also from the gentleness {
feeling, which is the attendant on civil
Cardinal NeiCmdn.