THE DAILY MESSAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1928, Page 1

THE DAILY MESSAGE

CHARACTER !S THE TRUE HALLMARK. Turku are many persons of the male sex whom society calls “ gentlemen ” who are certainly not men. Likewise, there are many of the female t sex whom society calls “ gentlewomen ” who certainly are not women—in the true sense of the word. And how many there are whom society does not call “ gentlemen ” who certainly are—in the finest sense of the word—men ! And how many others whom she does not call “gentlewomen ” who are—in every sense; of the word—women.' Poor old Society ! What an old humbug she is ! So long as a email or a woman'takes soup in the approved fashion—wears the right cut in clothes—knows the best ” people—gives evidence of a, substantial bank balance, no matter bow acquired, she dubs that person “gentleman” or “gentlewoman.” Of the real man and woman she knows little and cares less. Manners to her are much more important than morals; clean linen is much more vital than a clean mind. To plain men and women it may seem infinitely more important that a man should he distinguished by his character than by the correct crease in his trousers; that a woman’s claim to distinction should rest on what is in her heart and head, rather than what is on her back or in her bank. But not to “Society”—the old snob ! Many a male bounder passes for gentleman and many a female vampire for gentlewoman because Society, with reckless impartiality, stamps her hall-mark upon clothes—manners—money. Sometimes one wonders why the sterling men and women one knows are not accepted as being quite “the thing” (whatever “ the thing ” may he). And then perhaps we find that So-and-So’s mother was an office-cleaner years ago. And one wonders whether the brave little woman who started work at five o’clock in the morning cleaning' offices, to keep her young brood from eating the bread of charity (or worse), was not infinitely more entitled to be termed “gentlewoman” than Mrs , who capitalized her beauty by marrying —— for his money, as a form of social insurance. Of Mrs , who smokes hard. drinks hard, gambles hard, swears luud. —but all in the right style, don’t you know, and with the right people. Or Mrs , the shuddering little harpy, who tells unsavoury stories so smartly, but who moves in the “best” circles. Whatever “ Society ” has to say about it, no man can he a gentleman—in the best sense—who is not first a man—in the best sense. And no woman can ho a gentlewoman —in the best sense —who is not first a true woman. —M. PRESTON STANLEY.