Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-05-21
THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN.

now a member of the Woodstock
bar. 1t was written while he was
a student at the University OF Viz
ginia, and although preparing him.
self for what is known as one OF the
learned professions, he yet shows
through every line OF it his true APP
probation of that great and grand
calling that underlies and is the
fundamental necessity in the pros
perlty, progress and happiness OF
the whole world as we'll as that OF
separate countries and govern
ments. The article was written for
the Normal Iader, Middletown, va,
from which we copy it. 1t Will
richly repay a careful perusal:I
For the Index
The above may appear to many a
a very strange heading for an ar
ticle for an educational journal, but
when we remember that almost
every day we hear ayOung man ex-
claim, 81 don't want an education,
for | am only a farmer" it may
prove beneficial to a few-thereiore
we have chosen this subject.
There are engaged in the United
States 7,6SO,OOO persons in the oc-
cupation of agriculture ; there are
employed in the professions and
otherwise 5000, 900, thus making a
total working population off, ESQ.,
600, of which the rural districts
furnish nearly one-half. Collective
ly sour country cousins form quite
an army. 1t is a joyful fact to re-
late that such a large per cent. of
the people in this land are tilling
the soil. 1t explains fully the
healthy condition and present pros
perity of our republic, and points
to a glorious future. The record OF
history is, that prosperous, large,
and well-doing agricultural CON-
munity is indispensable to the life
of a nation. One prime and i'm
mediate cause of the downfall of
the eternal city of Rome was the
absence of powerful middle class.
The lands of the original farmers
of Italy had been taken from them
during the civil wars and lodged
in the hands of the aristocrats,
therefore it is not a matter of sur
prise that with the balance of pow
re alternately held by the two dan
gerous classes the very rich and
the very poor the mistress OF the
world fell q victim to the avarice
and jealousy of her own citizens.
England, in this century, despite
impediments of "blue blood and
princely lineage" is swayed by her
middle class ; is controlled by those
who have formed English character
the sturdy "cOuntry gentleman"
Russia, whose empire overruns
both Europe and Asia, is conspic-
uous by reason of the constant and
deadly struggle between the op-
pressor and oppressed, with no
mighty conservative element with
which to hold the discordant fac
tons in check. History, both writ
ten and unwritten, is teeming with
examples which prove the necessity
of the "country gentleman" as an
adjunct to the State, ana accOru-
ing to his patriotism, intelligence
aud purity, does the State rise or
fall in the social scale. The thought
must at once occur to all, then, how
important is the position which the
smallest farmer in America holds.
| Instead of an Insignificant factor
he is a monarch, and has the right
of a monarch. A plain, simple
American citizen, upon his should
ers:rests in part, and in a large part,
the responsibility Of the welfare Of
the republic.
If his servants, the public OIL
GERS, are corrupt, dishonest men,
it is but reflection Of the mirror
of his own face, for by his vote die
he place them there. The mouth o.
a stream can never rise higher than
it's source. Important, necessary
indispensable then, it is, that thu
country gentleman especially IL
the shade OF the stars and stripes
be true gentleman, and to be tina
, he must be educated We do no
, mean that be should be a Chester
field in demeanOr, although couT
T tesy should always be cultivated
Grace and the little arts of polite
| ness go long way toward clip
ping off the rough edges of lite
r and sometimes sweeten the bite
, cup Of adversely. OF course tn
tendency of physical labor is +
= lose sight of the various little socia
5 forms, and then people 50 oite
Z drop them for fear Of rldicule.
Philip Sidney once gave as I
definition Of a gentleman, "Highl,
. erected thoughts seated in a hear
of courtesy" There is no reaso
why this should not be engrave
upon the heart and followed by tn
. country as well as the city bred
To think of the best things AM
a trest your neighbor politely, woul
. transform both the "city fresh" an
the "country Jake'into gentlemen
!, Among gentlewomen and gentle
men clothes cut no figure, only s
that they are neat. Garments
however cut, are so thin, so trans
naranf ttnor frOck nor tan ca