Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-05-28
A GRNTL KIM AN.
Some Philosophical and Caustic Re-

Some Philosophical and Caustic Re-
neetiOns On an EndeGnitc AppelR-
ton.
Robert Louis Stevenson in scribner's Magazine.I
In one class, and not long ago, he was re-
garded as o gentleman who kept a gig. He
is gentleman in one house who does not
eat peas with his knife; in another, who
ia not to be discountenanced by any created
form of butler. In my own case, I have
learned to move among pompous menlals
without much terror, never without much
respect. In the narrow sense, and SO long
as they publicly tread the boards of their
profession, it would be difficult to find more
finished gentlemen; and it would often be
matter of grave thought with me, sitting in
my club, to compare the bearing of the ser
wants with that of those on whom they watt
ed. There could be no question which were
the better gentlemen. And yet I was hur-
ried into no Democratic theories; for I saw
the mem bers' part was the more difficult to
play I saw that to serve was more grace
full attitude than TO be served. 1 knew that
besides much of the servants gentiity was
ad hoe and would be laid aside with their
livery jackets; and to put the matter in
nutshell, that soma of the members would
have made very civil footmen and many of
that one of the prettiest gentlemen I ever
knew was servant.
The whole relation of master and servant
is to day corrupt and vulgar. At home in
England 1t is the master who is degraded;
here in the States, by triumph of inverted
skill, servant often so contrives that he de-
grades himself. He must be above his place;
and it is the mark of gentleman to be at
home. He thinks perpetually of his own
dignity; it is the proof of gentleman to be
jealous of the dignity of others. He is
ashamed of his trade, which is the essence
of vulgarity. He is paid to do certain SER
vices, yet he does them 80 gruf1y that any
man Of spirit would resent them If they were
gratuitous fayors; and this Gf he will reflect
upon it tenderly) is SO far from the genteel as
to be not even coarsely honest. Yet we
must not blame the man for these mistakes;
the vulgarity is in the air. There is tone
in popular literature much to be deplored;
depreciating service like disgrace; honoring
those who are ashamed of it; honoring even
q speak not without book such as prefer to
live by the charity of poor neighbors instead
of blacking the shoes of the rich. Blacking
shoes is counted Tin these works. thing
specially disgraceful. To the philosophic
mind it will seem q less exceptional trade
than to deal in stocks, and one in which it is
more easy to be honored than to write books.
once sailed on the emigrant side from
the Clyde to New York; among my fellow
passengers passed generally as a mason, for
the excellent reason that there WAS a mason
on board whom happened to know; and this
fortunate event enabled me to mix with these
working people on footing of equality.
thus saw them at their best, using their own
ciyility: while ], on the other hand, stood
naked to their criticism. The workmen were
at home; / was abroad; was the shoe-black
in the drawing-room, the Huron at Yer
saiIles; and used to have hot and Geld fits,