The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-17
WARD MALLISTER'S VIEWS.
Really Thinks a Gentleman May En-
gage in Certain Lines of Business.
IL


gage in Certain Lines of Business.
Ward McAlllster in New York World.
During the period Of our civil war soci-
ETY. became utterly demoralized. and
many persons amassed fortunes by stocks
and gold speculations. and government
contracts came to the surface by their
reckless extravaganza. Then came the
period of railway spectators, many Of
them genuine railway robbers. as they
acquired fortune in a dishonest and reck-
less manner. but under our modern leni-
ency we do not care how man ac-
quires his fortune so long as he is clever
enough to escape the prison walls.
At present we are just coming to the
reign of the great shopkeepers. shopkeep-
ing has changed so in fifty years that to
manage one Of our great dry goods, gro
Gerry. or tailoring establishments requires
the ability of a general. The modern shop
man is no longer bringing and servile. but
holds up his head as high as the man who
patronizes him.
In the second generation the old-time
prejudice which formerly existed vanishes
and undoubtedly in few years the million
aire proprietors of our great Broadway
and Sixth avenue stores will be knocking
and demanding admission to societys ex-
elusive functions.
There is undoubtedly set here who
might be termed reactionary who fight
against this impending change but our old
family element l am afriad, must content
themselves with their meetings Of colonial
danes, colonial wars, and other kindred
societies, and acknowledge that the old
order changeth."
The question now arises:
Can a tradesman be a veritable gen
tleman?
! reply unquestionably. yes.
The idea of what constitutes a gentle
man is very varied, and a definition is.
perhaps. different in America from the
definition in England. In a general sense
in this country it applies to every one
who is not a BLACKBOARD. as one working
man will say to another. BE gentle
man." or, Behave yourself like a gentle
man."
But, of course this is not the idea that
1 propose to discuss. The point is: Is 1t
possible for a man engaged in trade to
have all the instincts and feelings of
true gentleman, or, does the continual
striving after gain give a SLOPPY and
commercial tinge to his whole nature?
This depends upon the man himself.
In London a man IN the city is not
usually found in the drawing-rooms Of
the aristocracy, the only exceptions being
where a man of good family, usually a
younger son, has secured a good berth for
himself, possibly with very little to do
but draw his salary, or where a young
man has inherited from his father bust
ness which is carried on for him by his
partners but undoubtedly a man is a bit
ashamed Their of being in trade, and the
army the navy, the church and diplomacy
are considered a more correct career for
a young nobleman or gentleman If his
means will permit.
In America all this is different.
A young man on finishing his education
here is generally very anxious to get to
work and find some opportunity to com
of family and fortune rarely think of the
army navy and diplomacy and still less
of the church. Not that these careers do
not contain many estimable persons, but
they are certainly not regarded with as
much favor as the legal profession or as
commerce. banking, engineering of min
ing Take, for instance, young men after
completing their education in England
and America, they are at that period of
their life much alike, and then take them
fifteen years later; are the Americans any
the less true gentlemen for having spent
that time in the rush to secure fortune, or
does it blunt all their finer sensibilities?
The Duke of Argyle answered this
question conclusively, for he put all his
younger sons in trade.
They are not necessarily any the less
true gentlemen.