Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-01-05
what Gep,IemaDI

1t is almost a definition of a gentleman to
say he is one who never inflicts 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 unembarrassed action of those
about him; and he concurs with their move
ments rather than takes the initiative himself
His benefits may be considered as parallel TO
what are called comforts or conveniences in
arrangements of personal nature like an
easy chair or good fire, which do their
part in dispeing cold and fatigue, though
nature provides animal heat without them
The true gentleman in like manner carefully
avoids whatever may cause jar or a Jolt in
the minds of those with whom he is cast : all
cashing of opinion or collision of feeling, all
restraint, or suspicion, or gloom or resent
ment his great concern being to make every
one at their ease and at home. He has his
eye on all his company he is tender toward
the bashful gentle toward the distant, and
merciful to the absurd he guards against
unreasonable illusions or topics which may
irritate. He is seldom prominent in CONVEX
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 com
PEELED, never defends himself by mere re-
tort; he has no ears for scandal or gossip, is
scrupulous in imputing motives to those who
interfere with him, and interprets everything
for the best. He is never mean or little in
his disputes, never takes advantage, never
mistakes personalities or sharp sayings for
arguments 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 conduct ourselves toward our enc
my as if he were one day to be our friend.
He has too much good sense to be affronted
at insults and is too well employed to remem-
Der injuries. He is patient, forbearing and
resigned on philosophical principles He
submits to pain, because it is his destiny. If
he engages in controversy Of any kind, his
disciplined intellect preserves him from the
blundering discourtesy of better, perhaps,
but less educated minds, who, like blunt
weapons, tear and hack instead of cutting
clean, who mistake the point in argument,
waste their strength on trifles, misconceive
their adversary, and leave the question more
involved than they find it. He may be right
or wrong in his opinion, but he is too clear
headed to be unjust he is simple as he is
forcible, and as brief as he is decisive. No
where shall we find greater candor, consider
u'Ion' lhuulseuCe' he THROWS mnlseH INTO
the minds of his opponents, he accounts for
their mistakes, he knows the weakness of hu-
man reason as well as its strength, its prov
ince and its limits. If he be an unbeliever,
he will be too profound and large-minded to
ridicule religion or to act against it; he is too
too wise to be dogmatist or fanatic in his
infidelity. He respects piety and devotion;
he even supports institutions as beautiful,
venerable or useful, to which he does not as
sent he honors the ministers of religion, and
it contents him to decline its mysteries with
out assailing or denouncing them. He is a
friend of religious liberation, and that not on
ly because his philosophy has taught him to
look on all forms Of faith with an impartial
eye, but also from the gentleness of feeling,
which is the attendent on civilization. n.-Cdr-
dindl NclOmdn.