The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-21
A GENTLEMAN.
The Way in Which the Late Car.
dinal Newman Defined Him.

1t is almost definition of gentleman to
say that he is one who never inficts pain.
This description is both refined and, so far
as it goes, accurate. He is mainly occupied
in merely removing the obstacles which him
der the free and unembarrassed action of
those about him, and he concurs with their
movements rather than take the initiative
himself. His benefits may be considered as
parallel to what are called comforts or con-
veniences in arrangements of personal ma
ture-llke all easy chair or coed fire,
which do their part in dispeliing cold and
fatigue, though nature provides both means
of rest and animal heat without them. The
true gentleman, in like manner, carefully
avoids whatever may cause a jar or
Jolt In the minds Of those with whom
he is caSt-all caShing of opinion,
or collision of feeling, all restraint or Sus-
plclon, or gloom, or sentiment; his great
concern being to make every one at their
ease and at home He has his eyes on all
his company he is tender toward the bash
full, gentle toward the distant, and mercllu
toward the absurd. He can recollect to
whom he is speaking; he guards ag inst I'M
seasonable illusions, or topics which may
lrrltate; he is seldom prominent Ill CONVEX
sation. and never wearisome. He makes
light of favorS when 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 rttort; he has no ears for SANDER or
gossip, i, scrupulous in imputing motives to
those who Interfere with HIM, and lnterprets
everything for the best
He is never mean or little in his disputes,
never takes unfair advantage, never mis-
takes personalities or sharp sayings for
arguments, or lnsiuuates evil which he dare
not say out. From long-sighted prudence,
he observes the maxim of the ancient sage,
that we should always conduct ourselves
toward our enemy DIS If he were one day 10
be our friend He has too much good sense
to be affr0nted at insults; he is too well en-
ployed to remember injuries aud too indUlent
10 bear malice. He is patient forbearing,
and resigned on philosohhic principles; lie
submits TO pain because 1t is inevitable, 10
bereavement because 1t is irreparable. and
TO death because 1t Is his destiny. III he en-
cages i'll controversy OF any kind his dis
ciDlined intellect preserves him from
the laundering dIscUurtesy of better
ptrhaps but less educated minds, who, like
blunt weapons, tear and hack instead OF
cutting clean, who mistake the point in ar
gument waste their strength on TITLES, mis-
conceive their adversary. and leave the ques-
ton more involved than they ind 1t. lie
may be right or wrong Ill his opinion, but
he is too elear-neaded TO be unjust; he is as
simple as lie is forcible, and as brief as he
is decisive. Nowhere shall we find greater
cand0r, consideration, indulgence; he throws
himself into the minds OF his opponents, lie
accounts for their mistakes. He knows the
weakness OF human reason, as well as its
strength, its province and lis limits.
If lie be an unbelleVer he will be too pro-
found and iarge-minded to ridicule religion
or 10 act against it; he is too wise 10 be a
dogmatist or fanatic in his iHfdelity. He
respects piety and devotion; he even sup
ports institutions as venerable, beautiful or
useful, to which he does not assent; he
houors the ministers Of religion, and it con-
tents him to decline its mysteries without
assajling or denouncing them. lie is a
friend OF religious liberation, and that not
only because his philosophy has taught him
10 look on all forms OF faith with an impair
tial eye, but also from the gentleness and
effemluacy of feeling which is the attendant
on civilization. Not that he may not hold
a religion too in his own way, even when be
is not Christian. In that case his religion
Is one OF Imagination and sentiments /. Is
the embodiment OF those ideas of the sublime
majestic and beautiful without which there
can be no large philosophy. Sometimes lie
acknowledges the being OF God, sometimes
he invests an unknown principle of quail
ties with the attribute of perfection. Aud
his fancy he makes the occasion of such ex-
celient thoughts and the starting-po of
SO varied and systematic teaching that he
even seems like disciple of Christianity it
self. From the very accuracy and steadiness
of his logical powers, he is able tG see what
sentiments aye consistent in those who hold
any religious doctrine at all, and he appears
TO Others to feel and to hold a whole circle
OF theological truths, which exist in his
mind not otherwise than as a number of de-
ductl0ns.-L0ndon Daily News.