The Need For Gentlemen.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1921, Page 4

The Need For Gentlemen.

LONDON, Aug. 2i. Lieut-(ieiieral Sir U. Paden-Powell iu a lot-tor to Puy Scouts, says: - “There is a great need of gentlemen in our rising generation to-day. (tenth men are essential for the ('ivil Service of Pritish Protectorates and for oflieers in our Army, moic especially in distant lands, when it contains native personnel. Prom both these important lields I have heard the complaint, that the young men now coming into the Service, though technically well <pmlifted. just miss the important point ol all--they are not gentlemen. And nobody is quickci to recognise this than the native, whether Ik* be of Africa, Past or West, North or South, oi oi India. Indeed, one of our authorities is himself an Indian-born officer. In tin* Soudan, as in Nigeria, our successful givenuueut of semi-savage tribes at the hands of quite young men has been the admiration of foreign nations. This government has been suecesslul largely, or one may say solely, because they were gentlemen. The (mivcmiioi of Centum Past Africa before the »iat confessed to me that the government oi Unit colony was ladow tin* standard t ! Pritish Past Africa, for the reason that they had not gentlemen as we had l< till the subordinate posts, hi India today I have little doubt, in my own mind, from what 1 beard and know oi the Indians, that among the ollY

of tlie Army and Civil Set vice there are many who are not up to tin* pre-war standard, and whose procure is already doing harm. What it may do a few years lienee when they rise power it is difficult to foresee, hut distressing to contemplate. In indust iy at home there is now a demand for gentlemen as officials whom the men, as well as the employers, can trust as honourable, just, and human-hearted. Therein lies tin* solution of much «d I the industrial unrest. It is all a matter of education, and an urgent one Pdncatinn authorities doubtless recognise the national need of gentlemen, and that scholastic attainments akmdo not make a gentleman, (an they not devise some definite training I that end? Something in the nature of what is considered good form in tin* public school is needed -provided that that, form is really good. And Scout’s training supplies a concrete method in the practice of the ‘Scout Law.’ ” “A man who keeps clean in small things is the more likely to he clean in big things, clean in his dealings with other people and in his business; and that is the biggest step towards being a gentleman. It does not at all follow that a man who is rich and has money is therefore a gentleman. A gentleman is a mail who lias honour; a fellow von can trust; one who would scorn to tell a lie. A coward will tell a lie because he has not the pluck to tell the truth, and a gentleman is not a coward. To bo a gentleman you have to

have honour and lour other things eaen of which begins with the letter C. The first is Courage, because you mean to stick to the truth, to see fair play, or do the right. Another (' that makes the gentleman is Chivalry—readiness to risk his own safely or comfort to help someone weaker than himself. Like the knight of old he will help old women and children, and old or infirm people. He is courteous and polite to all, even the meanest or the most aggravating. He does not lose his temper, but sees the other fellow’s point of view and takes things easy instead of firing hack tt him. Another (’ is Cheerincss in doing all this. A fellow who does his duty in a grousing, surly way is only half doing it. Me are in this jolly world to enjoy it, not to he miserable. And we can not only enjoy it ourselves, hut through being happy, we can pass on happiness to other people. And then there is the Cleanness —the ‘cleanness in thought, word, and deed,' that the Scouts carry out in the Scout Law the cleanness m ' your dealings with other people, down to cleanliness of your own body. 11 von are a true Seoul you are a true gentleman.” '