New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-07

of wonderful progress undcr hcp"olio"Ii'Sii' nC
sots the mark by which n different policy Will
no irdccd in these words: :" We carry the
Great impulse and increase OF these years INTO
the future. There Is no reason why III many
lines of production we should not slIpaSS all
ctbor nations a. we have already done in some
,yborc are no near frontiers to our possible
dovelormont RotrogrcSson would be crime"
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THE "PERFECT GENTLEMAN" CASE
The Court of Special Sessions composed of
Justices Diver, smith and McMahon sitting
in thc Tombs on Monday decided the very
grave social question TO which reference was
made in these columns several days ago as to
tbc duty of perfect gentleman when his
yeracty is impugncd. The perfect gentle
man. in this instance, it may be remembered,
after giving the subject his most minute and
carcful thought, reached the conclusion that
absolutely the only thing he could DO con
sistently with his standing as peFloct
gentleman was to publicly insult the per
son who had minated that in the matter OF
telling cold truth the late George ashlngton
held over him After further delibefatlon ne
decided that the proper way to do this was TO
sian the offenders face. In accordance with
these conclusions and in pursuit of his duty
as a "perfect gentleman to himself and So
cictv at large he did the slapping at tho Horse
Show in Madison Square Garden. 10 his sur
n,iso no was smitten over the head and Shout
ders with big stick and dragged out by
rho notice. Such treatment Of "perfect
gentleman" engaged in the performance OF
high social duty was both unexpected and un-
pleasant. 1t had a tendency - bring the SccIaI
customs recognized by the perfect gentleman"
into discredit If gentleman could not settle
q question of veracy by slapping the doubt
er's face and then after proper prcimnaros
firing 4 pistol at him with more or less serious
intent. then he might well inquire " Where
are we att"
Il took three Justices 10 decide whether tho
behavior of the "pcrfcct gentleman was
proper and in accord with social usases' ana
co outside the pac of the law, or was vulgar
and ordinary breach of the peace such as any
ill-brcd quarreSome person might be glny
of and as such subject 10 the penalty OF me
or imprisonmcnt or both At tho hearing oi
the case the defendant did not deny the fact
OF the ASSAULT as it was coarsely and I'M
feelinely described in the legal documents
but urged in extenuation that he was really
obliged TO do as he did by his duty to himself
ard society, particularly the society OF wash
inaton. MARYLAND and Virginia in which he
lived and moved ard had his being. Gould
voun said his counsel. impressively. "return
IN vour home and enter the society you are
q member of in Washington and Baltimore II
YOU had not done as YOU did" NO." sald
the "pcrfcct gentleman with great solemnity.
BY which one great social question at least
seems to be settled under the sanction OF an
oath and that Is that no man claiming TO be
perfect gentleman" whose word is doubted
nv another can be admitted into the society
Of "perfect gentlemen in Washington and
baltimore unless he breaks up Horse Show
or some other public entertainment by slipping
the douhter's face Having done that his
social standing is assured. We do not under
stand that society" in these two places cares
copper whether perfect gentleman does
actually tell a lie IL is not expected that he
will prove his truthfulness only that he shall
slap tile face of anybody who doubts 1t. 1t
NAV be said In favor Of this social usage that
il saves the bother Of hearing testimony and
making up judgment and economies intel
lectual processes, which is an important con-
sideration with those among whom these social
usageS Obtain.
At the conclusion Of the testimony the de-
fendant's counsel informed the court that his
client did not ask TO have the charge dis
missed that he expected a fine, but In fixing
the amount he desired the court TO consider
the social conditions of Washington, Maryland
and Virginia which imposed an obligation on
the DEFENDANT Nothing could be handsomer
than this nothing more Characteristic of the
"pelfect gentleman" than this large-hearted
readiness to pay reasonable sum for tho priv
ilcge of slapping another mans face. His only
request was that the court should consider the
"social conditions" which compelled him 10 do
IT, The court did consider them and asked
him to pay 800 for it. By this it is settled
that "pcrfcct gentleman must slap the face
Of ANYBODY who doubts his word If he would
maintain his social standing in Washington,
Maryland and Virginia" Also that if he does
| it in New-Yorl he will have to pay 500 for
The privilege. These are useful prccedents.
But what bothcrs us is that nobody even now
knows whether or not the perfect gentle
man. did tell lie. That has not come ont
! All that we know is that he slapped another
mans face and paid 500 for il and by virtue
thereof has preserved his social standing in
Washington, Maryland and Virginia" What
queer CT &c OF chattcring monkeys this blessed
planet is anyhow