WHAT IS A GENTLEMAN?

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 261, 3 November 1928, Page 7 (Supplement)

WHAT IS A GENTLEMAN?

The Yorkshire "Evening News" asked its readers some weeks ago to reply to the above question. Here are some of the definitions sent in:— "The finest soldier in the ranks of chivalry." "One who can be gentle, remain a man, and never be conscious that he is being either." "A gentleman is a courteous nobleman in any station of life." "A gentleman is a man who is a man and never forgets it." "A man with a heart bigger than his banking account." "One who respects on the surface the pretensions of others—while reserving private judgment." "One who is straight, fearless for the right, true to himself, honorable. One who regards and treats with kindness old people and children, and, what is more difficult, is considerate for old frumps." He boasts not of his kindly deeds. And thoughtful is of others' needs. He the weaker sex respects, And overlooks his friends' defects. His motto is, through life's short span, To play the game and be a man. "A gentleman is a man who honours all women; is courteous to everyone, irrespective of rank, and, being conscious of his own shortcomings, studiously refrains from mentioning his observance of the same failings in others." "A man who is in the van during the fight for right and in the rear when it comes to sharing the spoils." "A gentleman is a person who prefers to be called a man." "A gentleman is a man who does a kind action and forgets it; if he receives one he always remembers it." "One who could be pointed out with the remark, 'That man is not what I am, but what I ought to be.'" "He is one from whom one may receive a favour without being made to repent of it."—Sir Walter Scott. "He is at ease with everybody ,and makes everybody at ease with him." "Every honest man is a gentleman of nature."