Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-03
OUTSIDE POINT OF VIEW
Ladies. Gentlemen and Culture.

webster gives some definitions as
follows: Culture. physical improve
ment: enlighte and discipline ac-
quired by mental training; civilization,
refinement"
Gentleman: "one of gentle or re-
fined manners; weH-hred man.
Lady: "A woman of gentle or re-
fined manners: the feminine eorre-
spending to gentleman"
There are many other definitions OF
these three words. and some of them
make possible the correct use of these
words in expressing speakers or
writer's opinions OF the three in way
not common to us in these days. But
these three selected definitions are in
the minds of all of us when we use
the words in everyday conversation.
And yet how woefully we. murder
kings English! ''Wanted-A washer
lady to come to the house on Mon
days" Certain it is the writer of the
modern advertisement needs a die
tionary.
Now person that commonly and
perslstentiy eats with a Knife in the
United States in 1903 can not be a
lady or a gentleman, or be considered
cultured, yet lady can eat poi" with
her fingers In Hawaii. A gentleman
in China can use the chop-stick and
still be entitled to his distinction from
the plebian. Persons of culture in
Spain, Cuba or Mexico can really en-
joy bull fight. In this country we
allow the same privileges to spectators
of our noble game of football, but draw
the line at prize fighting. A gentleman
or lady is born in England: here they
are created. or perhaps evolved Is the
better word. The prince Of Wales was
and King Edward Is the first gentle
man of England" Twenty years ago..
IL he had acquired a residence in Iowa,
some would have disputed his right to
have emigrated the title with him. In
our insane asylums are gentlemen and
ladies in the fullest American sense OF
the words. On our farms. in our work.
shops. in our stores and in our homes
are ladies and gentlemen. this using
the quoted definition as authority for
the statement. Clothes do not make
the man." emphatically not the gem
tleman.
Much Of this moralIzing came to the
writer from "a cut" in u big daily pa
per the other day. Taken from photo
graphs were the pictures OF a bride and
groom. We were told that she was
educated abroad. that her parents
were those of refinement and wealth.
She looked like lady. The groom, the
paper informed us. was a wealthy
young man of the firm of Black. White
& Co.. had been elected alderman sew
eral times and was prominent In local
politics. His picture was a half-length
photograph, showing him with hair
smoothed down. bare faced. big dia-
mond pin. white vest, head thrown
back and hands in trousers pockets.
And that settled It: The lady had not
married gentleman. Why? Because
no gentleman would have allowed him.
self to have been photographed in that
attitude. much less have furnished the
daily paper with that photograph for
"a cut Fine point? BY no means.
1t told a whole story. palmer, more
emphatic, more distinctly, than writ
ten or spoken language.
Now the writer Is not sure that Ia
dies and gentlemen Of culture those
truly named, get any more out OF life
than THOSE who make no claim or pre-
tensions for the titles. Well go far
Their and again doubt that men and
women. everyday sort of people, are
less respected. have less friends or less
enjoyment than the false or rightly
titled ladies and gentlemen. The re-
straints of refinement. culture. So
called. are bound to be irksome. What
is known as the veneer of civilization
requires a decade, to become second
nature. The gentleman that goes every
year to the woods hunting or fishing Is
only barking back to nature. A cleve-
land or q Roosevelt fishing or hunt
ing roughing 1t as they call 1t, is get
ting back to q state OF nature. That
these gentlemanly sportsmen return to
their accustomed environments with
renewed zest only proves that life of
refinement has been acquired as an en-
jcyable one by years Of association and
habit Many cases are on record where
the criminal refuses to leave the peni-
Tertiary when pardoned.
After much rambling the writer
comes to the point: rs men and
women we want in this country. Big
men and large women, always using
capital letters. We want and need
men with gentlemanly characteristics,
language and habits. Women with
lady-like appearance, cultured in
thought and expression. We want a
custom that brings a speaker on to
the public platform with the opening
address: ''Men and women, appear
before YOU" etc. It's told of a lecturer,
who, once speaking before an audi
ence of assembled convicts in states
prison chapel, began his address as
aladies and gentlemen" Nevertheless,
we shall still see in the papers this
lad" "Wanted-A washer-lady to
come to the house on Mondays" Ad-
dress
My<yoLl2%6