The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-11-13
A Gentleman.

Happening to pick up slip some
one had cut out of q newspaper [
found thereon several definitions Of
what constitutes a true gentleman.
1t is not necessary to repeat ; but ust
say that they reminded me of an Incl
dent related to me some years ago by Il
middle aged respectable woman. Whilst
riding in street car, in the city and
not knowing how to get to the place
she wished, she saw sitting near. the
head of one of the dry goods firms in
the city elegantly dressed in the finest
cloth, and supposing him to be gent
leman who could and would give her
the necessary information she modestly
enquired of him the way but he hard
" deigned to notice her, and gave her
no directions that were of the least ad-
vantage to her. An freshman dressed
in dirty working suit seeing how mat
tiers stood, volunteered and gave correct
directions as far as they went another
Irishman dressed IN the same manner
added a little thereto, and between the
two, gave such directions that she had
no difficulty in finding the way. Me-
thinks there can be no question as to
who was best entitled to the name Of a
gentleman. Now if the elegantly dres
sed erchant mdid not Immediately fee
himself corrected by those kind hearted
Irishmcn, should he by any possible
chance happen to meet with this note
he doubtless will remember the circum-
stances, and may he SO profit thereby
that the name at the head of these lines
may with more propriety be applied to
him.
WELL WIsHER.
TSome unknown lady tied the above
to the knob of the MIDLAND office door
with her bonnet string. The name of
the writer was not given, which in gen
eral ,Frules all articles out of a newspap-
err. But we will make an exception
this time in order to state, that kind
ness of heart is, as in the present in
stance, often mistaken for genteel man
ners, or the sine quanon Of gentle
man. The two are very different, how
ever though when found associated in
one person they adorn each other. 1t
is the cultivated artistic manners, cor
rectspeech, neatness in dress, and grace
full movement, which constitute the
gentleman of society. The kindness
of heart displayed by the Irishmen, did
not excuse their awkward, crude, and
inelegant manners, but stamped them
as natures noble men. Had this noble
ness of nature displayed by the sons of
ERIN been accompanied by the polish
and dress, the grace of movement and
elegance of the churlish dry goods man,
it would constitut them the very first
order of gentlemen. The one, who had
acted rudely toward the woman, could,
when occasion required. doubtless, be
as pleasant, courteous and agreeable as
any one could wish; and in company
Of educated, we'll dressed aad refined
people, be at his ease and make all in
his presence feel comfortable. He
could readily conceal his boorish nature,
but here natures noble men would
have been taken at disadvantage Their
kindness of heart would not fill the
place also Of gentle breeding and cult
ured manners. 1t is the tailor's art,
education and training which make the
gentleman of society. Nature makes
the nobleman. The two may be entirely
separate but they are both vastly i'm.
proved by being united.