The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-15

gentleman without revenue other than
that which came TO him from day TO day.
From my experience, the American
gentleman is taken from all classe-; ana L
do not, personally, want any better specl-
men of the gentleman than is to be found
right in our own city in all classes. L mix
with them all, and know them all. and L
find the essential qualities of gentleman
Illness in every grade of social life here
and do not find it one bit better devel-
oped in what is called the higher grade of
society than | do in the artisan and mer-
chant classes. l think the reason Is owing
to the reverent position which women oc-
cupy-deservedly occupy-ln This COM
munity. 1t is the American high standard
of womany character and the reverence
they attach to it which makes them gen.
tlemen.
There is no school on earth that will
make gentlemen so rapidly or so perma-
nentIy as association with cultivated
women"
Judge Edward A. Belcher OF the Supe-
rlor Court, who had occasion to speak OF
gentlemen when he sentenced Melville, the
EN- bezzler. the other day. had studied the
question from sociological standpoint.
''ln the Melville case," he said, u de-
plored the fact that the prisoner, VINO mad
undoubtedly had gentlemanly training,
had fallen into crime. l pointed out that
when men who were in station which
was supposed to set honest example fell,
what could be expected of those who were
environed with crime? Ii is a momentous
question.
What constitutes a gentleman to my
notion are those two virtues attributed to
the Chevalier Bayard. man sans peur ct
sans reprOche. That is, one who will con-
scentously and exactly perform his du-
ties regardless of any influences soeVer;
that is, doing right for rights sake because
it is right, and from no other motive what
ever.
at seems to ME, right in that behalf,
that it is not necessary that one should be
a Christian. or should be devout believer
in any religion to be a perfectly moral
man. for, in my judgment, right-doing
should be the rule with every person.
High moral character is the prime
distinctive characteristic OF gentleman,
not the accidental place man may occupy
in the comm unity; not the accident OF
birth at all. but precisely what man is
in himself makes or makes him not gentle
man.
'StEaigh unvarying consclen-
@, tiousness, under all circumstances, that is
my pinion of what a gentleman is, My
observation of men is that there is IN them
greater tendency TO do right than wrong
This. in my Judgment, Is brought about by
the broadenings.0f The mind. wherever q
mRn's mind is enlarged.
= 81 would say, generally speaking that a
gentleman once, "a gentleman always
" MI Chambliss. the "Othef" society
leader, has very pronounced ideas OF what
constitutes a gentleman. =
q. OF course he holds that the gentleman
must. observe a watehful sang fr0id on
every disturbing occasion, be degage at
all times and under all circumstances. and
from bon jour to hon soiI be a living ex-
ami pie Of lie savoir faire: 80
j.: That is the bon ton way of conveying
the idea in few words from a luxurious
armchair. Leader Chambliss understo cd
how to present his preface, and then gen.,
:tlemen should know something OF the
datntiness and finesSe of society French
to catch its effulgence-0r carry pocket
dictiOn airy. 20
=; The author and leader assumed an easy
air and with grace that might be con-
StTued as exemplary. told his views as
they surged IN upon the palpitating brain.
( ave said something upon this. very
question in my book. you know" he began,
II have no hesitation in giving my opin-
ion, not in the least, sir. You know that
it is a matter that should be better under