Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-03
THE POLITE MAN
ANDTHE GENTLEMAN

Many people do not pretend 10 realize
the difference between polite" and gen
tie,' which may be only a misfortune but
sometimes amounts to a calamity Polite
ness Is often an occasional manifestation;
sentieness is always an inherent perma-
hency. one works from the outside, in;
the other from the inside. out. A horny fist
may distribute aims and manicured hand
shave note. Scratch a Russian and
you'll find a Tartar surely; scratch a polite
man and you'll find a gentleman, perhaps.
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The fact that a man lifts his hat grace
fully. speaks deferentially to women, smiles
upon children and doesn't eat soup with a
sponge Is not always guarantee that he
can be safely left alone with the silver.
Because man bounces up In a crowded
street car to give his seat to a golden
haired dream It doesn't follow that he may
not reproye his wife with a curtain pole.
man who chucks other folks children
under the chin may crack his own over the
head. pleasant smile out In company
may mean two growls at home.
-
A college education doesn't constitute in
surance' against degeneration. Good gram
mar and poor morals often travel hand In
hand. and many a man splits his infinitves
who wouldn't speak harshly to his horse.
Wrong a polite man and he will insult you
artistically and in public; wrong a gentle
man and he will thrash you grievously and
In private. polite man may be gentle; q
gentle man can be naught but polite.
Persistent provocation is damaging to po-
lite veneer, but 1t doesn't even dent the
solid timber Of gentleness Politeness is
often an adjunct OF sharp practice; gentle
ness sometimes the shining mark.
4 \
continental bow may temporarily
eclipse pair Of shifty eyes, and a frank
smile quite frequently Is a sneer In dis
guise Politeness is skin deep as beauty,
but gentleness lies close to the bone. The
proper use of an oyster fork doesn't indi-
cate financial responsibility any more than
to eat early June peas with knife serves
as proof Of moral turpitude.
\
A polite man in evening clothes can bor-
row money of his host, but gentle man
in overalls Is lucky to get his weekly wage.
Blue blood may be polite without being
gentle. The descendant of kings motors
over dog, but the butchers boy binds up
the broken leg. Politeness whispers sweet
nothngs to beauty, but gentleness has a
kind word for the charwoman.
4
The polite man is usually careful of his
outward appearance. but a gentle heart
may beat beneath a thunder and lightning
waistcoat. Ancient lineage is tangible
asset in polite circles but many a gentle
person has forgotten the first name of his
grandfather. The man who can't eat an
egg without following his chin may have
the cleanest sort of hands.
A man who is very polite has many COM
ments passed upon his manners, but people
take the man Of gentle ways as matter
of course. 1t is polite to rush forward and
open the door for a woman to leave the
room, but it is gentle to be at the door
in plenty Of time. The polite man Is ag-s
gressively gentle; the gentle man quietly
self-effacive.
It is pity that SO many people do not
pretend to realize the difference between
polite" and gentle" For, as I've said.
one can never tell what the difference IL
going to amount to. Sometimes It Is only
a misfortune, But 1t may be a calamity.
UNCLE JASPER.