Evening star., 1940-03-28
True Meaning
Of the Word
Gentleman
Being Thoughtful
Of Other People
First Requisite
BY ANGELO PATRI.

l have letter from a boy, II,
freshly graduated from high school,
with honors. This is about what
he says:
people say, So-and-so is a gen.
tleman. The way they say gentle
man always makes me want to have
it said about me. But can't have
any more education than I have.
must go to work because my peo-
pie need my help. They've worked
and sacrificed for the education I
have and while they would like to
have me 60 to college, know they
must not be loaded longer with re-
sponsibility for me. So how can I
be gentleman? What is gentle
man.
You are one, my boy. Gentleman
means just what it says, gentle
man, one who steps softly, acts gra-
ciously, thinks unselflshly, lest he
hurt somebody. He is one who thinks
of others before himself, who is
strong for what he believes to be
right, loyal to those who have be-
friended him, patient with those
who have not.
A gentleman loves beauty and
serves her. Beauty is not to be
confused with prettiness, or nice
ness. She Is often severe. She is
thin sister to Truth and she car
ries a sword to destroy what threat
ems to demean her. But she car
ries power of strength in her
touch that will act like magic on
those who serve her whole-heartedly.
And that a gentleman instinctively
does.
There are some boys who think
the outward show will give them
the standing of gentleman. They
are particular about standing up
when LADY enters the room, except
at home. They are careful about
lifting their hats to the girls, and
to those whose good opinion they
think might be useful, but the fam
lily and the poorer neighbors do
not count. They go out of their
way to do kindnesses for those who
do not need them, but they wouldn't
waste time on the helpless ones.
They prettify themselves, but they
miss beauty and have no acquaint-
ance with duty.
Duty is the stern goddess of the
law. Every man worth calling
man, has in him certain hard and
fast laws that fall outside the laws
of man. They are the decisions
of his own soul and he lives and
dies by them. They are the ex-
pressions of duty and he can no
more ignore them than he can deny
them. They are the more powerful
because they are silent. No gentle
man talks about doing his duty. He
does it naturally as he breaths,
even though it means laying down
his life in its service.
Beauty and duty are always ac-
companied with laughter. Living is
serious and laughter is in harmony
with it. The professional ha, ha,
the empty giggle, are not related to
laughter any more than prettiness
is related to beauty. 1t is a refresh
ing uplift of the spirit that rises
in Joy to meet the grandeur, the
majesty and glory Of life. It is that
singing of the morning stars that
the psalmist heard and understood.
Don't worry about it, boy. Be-
ing a man, regardless of the diplo-
mas you may or may not hold, is
being a real gentleman. The world
is full of them.
1t is sometimes hard for an
only child to adjust himself or
herself to the companionship Of
other youngsters. Send for An
gelo Patri's booklet, "Your Child
and Other People," inclosing 10
cents in coin. Address Angelo
Patri, In care Of The Evening
Star.