Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-04-22
Admission to "GoOd Society,""

| Thackeray's satirical remark that s'it
takes three generations TO make gentle.
man" is usually treated as nothing more
than smart saying, but it has i'll it the
germ of an elemental truth. Good society
| is like secret organization with pass
words and grips, without which none may
pass its portals. But the passwords aad
| grips canDo5 he defined; there are no off.
GERS, 10 committees to pass upon appli-
Giants; whatever is done in the way of ad.
mission or exclusion is done instinctively
by the whole society, and not by any one
member or committee ofmembers. Money
BE- isself will not open the doors; famil-
iariiy With the rules of etiquette is not suf-
ficient, for the dancing master has that to
perfection, and SO also has the servant who
opens the hall door; great intellectual
powers or high moral qualities may com.
mand an introduction, but are not alone
sufficient passport to constant association.
Emerson says; "What fact more conspicu-
GUS in modern history than the creation of
the gentleman? Cbiyalry Is that and 10y
atty is that, and in English half the drama
and all the novels, from Sir Philip Sidney
10 Sir Walter Scott, paint this figure. The
word gentleman, which, like the word
Christian, must hereafter characterize the
present and the few preceding centuries BY
the importance attached to it, is a homage
to personal and lncommunicable properties.
Frivolous and fantastic additions have got
associated with the name, but the steady
interest of mankind in it must be attributed
to the valuable properties which it desig-
mates. An element which unitss all the
most forc.ble persons of every country,
makes them ineligible and agreeable to
each other, and is somewhat so precise that
it is at once felt if an individual lacks the
Masonic sign, cannot be any casual prod
uct, but must be an average result of the
character and faculties universally found in
men," Tothis he adds: srThe gentleman
is man OF truth, lord of bis own actions
and expressing that lordship IN his be-
havior, not in any manner dependent and
servile either on persons or opinions OF pos
sessions. Beyond this fact of truth and
real force the word denotes good nature or
benevolence; manhood first and then gen.
tleness." Popular fancy usually associates
with these qualities as an important, if not
essential, element, ease or fortune, hut
this is resultant of foreaful pature.-
Tie enterprising, self-confdeut, forceful
men of former days were the military
heroes who won for themselves lands and
titles on the battlefield. They have their
counterparts to-day in the merchants,
politicians Or manufacturers who put the
same high qualities to other uses, but with
the same result--the acquisition of fortune.
But it is the quality that makes fortune,
not the fortune itself, that helps to con-
stitute the gentleman of the high society
type. But while the foIceful man is at
work he may not be recognized by that
mysterious fraternity known as good So
ciety. He is deficient in the other quail.
ties required, among which is repose Or
self control Ana SO it happens that
though he may not himself be initiated, bis
sous or later descendants may reap the re-
wards Of his maniipess and the saying of
Thackeray be verified. Absurd though it |
may appear to be to treat good society as |!
founded upon Intellectual, physical and |
moral force, it is nevertheless fact that |
the passport to it is founded upon manly |
truth and independence, and upon that de-
Velopment OF gentilty which comes Of con-
scious power united with kindly feeling
and sympathy. Fortune and power are
born of these attributes, but the attributes
themselves may exist when for. une and |
power have passed away, leaving the
of the man of independence of
character still recognized member of
good society, though be may not be a man
-
observed that good society would not exist
bat for tho underlying strata Even in
republic, where all men are supposed to be
equal, there are recognized grades Of soci-
5ty, higher and lower; but the higher can
not create themselves--they rest upon those
beneath them. Maa of Sufficient moral and
Intellectual force to assert their independ-
snce are constantly rebelling and rising to
'he upper strata; they prove their fellow
ship by refusing to yield their indepena- |.
snce, but they must do so in the proper
manner, not In the brutal way of the French
reyolu!ionists, but with the courtesy as
snciated with good nature. Society thus
bounded has its uses, and it may be af-
irmed that such society as exists in this
country is so founded. The doors are not |
open to those who are ready to grovel to
heir srperiors for the cake of admission,
put they are always wide open to men of
and moral force, who unite
with the qualities that constitute them |
eadsrs of men spirit of independence
hat lifts them above Jealousy, and kindly |
interest in humanity that stamps them as
true Observation-Disclosures San,