The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-04-02
Wheeler WiIcOr.

the rank and file, to mingle military
and naval expressions, could not
fulfil the social functions expected
of naval officers, were not the gen
tlemen, in short, that the Annapolis
men were.
Then it was recalled to SIMPSONS
shame, what had been recorded to
his honor by all right thinking
people, that his father was a rather
shiftless ditch digger and that the
son had risen from that position
through the appointment to An
napolis and the training given there
by a liberal government. He was
reminded of the pit from which he
had been digged, the elevation be-
ing all to his credit until he mani
tested that want of consideration
for his fellows, many Of whom are
as we'll born and, save for the pecu-
liar training at Annapolis, as fit as
he is to represent the American peO-
pie And the b~itterest drop in the
cup was probably the publication of
the other fact, that his rival in pOpu-
lar estimation, Winfield Scott SChley,
had behind him several generations
of ancestors of gentle birth, and that
he was the one to give the credit of
Santiago to the "men behind the
guns" 1t is an impressive lesson,
that the man who lacks considera-
ton for others is bound to show
what he is some time.
We call the man who is unable to
respect himself a cad. Other peO-
pie instinctively agree with him in
his estimate. He can initiate a gen
tleman on occasion, but, no matter
what his wealth or his social posi-
ton, he is a manikin rather than Il
man.
And the man who has no consider
alton for others we call Doors.
ROughness bristles out from them as
the quilts from a porcupine's back
and we give them Il wide berth.
Very useful men they may be some
shOuldering their way through
life and commanding the admira-
ton of the weaklings whom they
thrust aside. Their self respect has
evolved into monumental cOnceit and
exaggerated egOtism. But people do
not like them. And now and again
they measure themselves against "a
real gentleman and the people see
what pigmies they are. 1t is said
that a porcupine is really u small
animal when stripped Of his quilts.
And a good deal of the prejudice
against the name gentleman, and
the idea it carries, comes from those
who imagine that their failure in
this respect is due to their circum-
stances of birth or poverty or calling
when it is due to their own charuc-
-ers. There are no outward Circum
that a rob a man OF self
respect. No rank III society is nee
assary for u man to exercise the viz
tue of consideration for others. No
honest work can unmake d gentle
men. While ]selfshness will make a
Door of Il king and the great army
IF cads is continually recruited from
the ranks of the nobility and the in
ner circles of the upper ten.
1t is always u pitiful sight to see
the desperate efforts made by men
md sometimes, perhaps often, maybe
just Is often, by women, to counter
-eit, by their eXclusiveness, their rules
IF etiquette and their a~ffectatiOns of
manners, that which really belongs
TO the character which is as unmis-
as the ring of true metal,
and which may be attained,
unless the character has been
unchungeubly fixed, by the Observ
Of Il law that was given by Moses
and reiterated by Jesus Christ,
Thou shalt love thy neighbOr ICON
S~ideratlon for others) as myself
(s~elf-respecD.
Kin hearts are moro than coroncts.
Ana simple faith than Norman blood.
N. @. Presbyterian.