The True Gentleman.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 26, 29 June 1885, Page 2

The True Gentleman.

The true gentleman carefully avoids whaievei may cause a jnr op jolt. in the minds of those vs it li whom lie is cast; silt clashing of opinion, or collision of fwhn^/, all restraint, or suspicion, or gloom, or resentment; his great concern being to make eTeryone at thier ea«e aud at home. Ha Ins hU eyes on all h:s company* ho is tender towards the bashful, gentle towar, is the distant, and merciful towards thci absurd; he can- recollect to whom Iwh speaking-, he guardi : agitinsi' unreasonable . allusions or topics which may : i rVi tale; he is seldom prominent m conversation-, -anti. Uevev wearisome. He makes li^htoffavotiW >>hi.ehn doi's th ,*m, and seems to be rec/.iviiig fche.i l>e m conferring: Be w.vQV rfpehka uf himself except when' compeffe-l, nevei defends himself by a mere retort; he has no ears for slander or gossip, is scrupulous m imputing motives to those who interfere, with him aud interprets everything for the best. He is novui mean or little m his deputes, never takes an unfair advantage, never mistakes personalities or sharp sayings for arguments, or insinuates evil which he dare not say out. From a long-sightod prudencf he observes that maxim of the ancient sajje — that we should ever conduct ourselves towards our enehy as if he weiv one day to become otu* friend. He has too much bensc to be affronted with insults, he is too well employed to remember injuries, and 100 indolent to bear malice. He i* pationt, for boaring. and resigned on, philosophical principle; he submits to pain because it is inevitable, to bereavement because it is irreparable, and to de th decauseit is destiny. If he engage m controvesy of any kind his disciplined intellect preserves hini from the blundering discourt »y of better, perhaps, but less educated mtiids, who, like blunt weapons, Wai* aud hack, instead, of eultiog oleaq, who mistake the point of the urgui men t, waste thier strength on trifles tuiscoiiPfive their ad yei'Mai-y, and lea v O ;- the qiieatiou more involved than they find it. — Cardinal Newman.