The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-09-19
A COUNTRY GENTLEMAN"

n ''CVUNxh1 OENI1EmhN.
Time was when the country gen.
tleman was part, and not the least
part, of the social life Of Maryland,
her sister State, Virginia, and, in
fact the entire South. Nowadays,
however, prestige has passed from
him to his city brother.
The character of the Country gen
tleman" has changed with the fleet
ing years. It is but fair to him,
whether he be of the new or the old
school, to say that he is not personal
ly responsible for the transformation.
Time, progress, the tide of fortune
and environment have all had a hand
in bringing about different conditions.
WAS ONCE A SOCIAL POWER.
Fifty years ago some rural Mary
lander or Virginian would probably
have driven a hundred or so miles to
take an important part in dancing
the minuet at the Greenbrier White
Sulphur Springs, the resort par ex-
cellence of the South in those days.
In this year of grace 1908 none of
Baltimore's social queens would send
to the country for a cotillon leader.
She would probably select him from
her list of friends in town, or if she
desired the german to be very origi-
nal ard "smart" she might import the
lion from New York, Philadelphia or
Washington, but who will assert that
she would get him from Talbot coun-
ty, Maryland, or Oshkink, Va? No
reflection whatever is cast upon the
terpsichorean qualities of Eastern
Shoremen and Virginians, for they
dance well, as rule, and this fact is
generally recognized. Reference to
them here is merely meant to point a
moral and adorn table.
PICTURE OF IMAGINATION.
To the Imagination a beautiful
glamour of romance surrounds and
envelops the country gentleman. ("
One instinctively pictures him as be-
ing with all the virtues and graces
aid few of the vices, barring a too
liberal use of tobacco, with an insult
,ficient supply of cuspidors, and a nat
ural propensity to place his feet in
more elevated position than his head.
He is, of course, kindly and courte-
Gus. He is hospitable beyond meas
ure and extends to the stranger with
in his gates not only cordial invita-
ton to dine, but insists that he shall
remain as his guest for at least two
weeks.
His attire is immaculate. He sits
in an easy chair on his vine-covered
veranda and puffs contentedly at his
pipe as he cuts the pages of the latest
magazine. His healthy face wreath
ed in smiles is reflected in his polish
ed boots as he listens with rapture to
the new waltz his wife is playing on
the piano in the drawing-room. The
music is waited out to him through
the open French windows. He heaves
a sigh, not of pain, but of pleasure,
as his eye glances over the broad
acres of woodland and fertile fields,
and he builds castles of how he will
go to the Legislature or State Senate,
and possibly some day be the incum-
bent of the executive mansion.
AND THEN THE AWAKENING.
What pity that ideals should be
shattered The Imagination treas
ures such a perfect dream for the
Country gentleman, and that per-
sonage of this day and generation
finds so much in reality that it is hard
and trying in his battle for living
for himself and those dependent upon
him.
There is new school of country
gentlemen" that varies in many es-
sentials from the old. Indeed, it
would not be out of place to speak of
the two types as the country gen.
tleman" and the gentleman who
lives in the country. A distinction
without difference, some may claim,
bnt, nevertheless, distinction.
Theoretically, one is inclined to as
sociate the original country gentle
man" with large plantation, an
abundance of things to adorn his
table, focks of cattle and sheep in his
meadows and more fine horses in his
stables than he can possibly find time
to ride or drive. In the minds eye
he lives in great house surrounded
by forest trees, with a wide expanse
of greenhouses upon which his vision
feasts. He wears, of course, large
SLOUGH" hat of felt, and is most en-
phatic in his eyes, sir" and "No,
madam" to those he greets, regard
less of their youth and old age. He
has hosts of servants to do his bidding,
and, naturally, he is an excellent
Judge of good whisky, as his guests
can testify. He lives way off from
everywhere, and his house is his cas-
tie. But, alas and alack All of this
is in the minds eye. In reality the
country gentleman" is up against a
cold, hard, practical proposition.
THE IDEAL. COUNTRY GENTLEMAN. y
From the truly idealistic stand
point the real country gentleman
of this generation is not country
gentleman" at all, but city man
He is a banker, broker, jurist, law
yer or successful exponent of some
branch of the professions of business
and his abode is usually in short
distance of the city from whence flow:
his revenue. He is as proud as {
peacock of his squash, cabbage anc
turnips. He bushes with the mai