THE GENTLEMANLY INTEREST.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE STATS. Sir,— l am a Cockatoo. It is a humiliating confession, but nevertheless true. Such being my humble lot, I am not supposed to know much about anybody's business but my own, and perhaps very little of that. My lowly walk in Jife and slop made clothes have told against my making any very swell acquaintances. I couldn't get a Justice of the Peace to vouch for my character, because I don't know one; it would very nearly take my breath away if the parson were to speak to me. All men are equal in the sight of God, he says, and I think he is not far out there ; but it don't seem to be a doctrine that's believed in much, as far as man is concerned—l wish it was. I am fond of the society of the great and noble; a nod from a squatter (insolvent or olherwise) is pleasant to think about, and for many a day afterwards it feeds my poor hungry vanity, and makes me love my kind. That is why I registered my vote, and when election time comes round, I reap a rich reward. Gentlemen (real gentlemen, mind, who would no more dream of knowing ycu at any other time than they would of being civil to their servants) come and talk to me at home, and recognise me abroad, and are as anxious about my interests and welfare as though I owed them money. I have shaken hands with more of them during the last four days than I have had a nod from for the past four years. And who am I pledged to vote for ? Rolleston, to he sure. Isn't he a gentleman, and the representative of the gentlemanly interest ? And isn't it doing an honour to one's self to vote for him ? Of course it is. Moorhouse may be all very well; he made the tunnel, not because he was a gentleman, but because he was a man of sense. But what is the use of sense if a man isn't gentlemanly? I don't mean to identify myself with the Moorhouse party, because they are not gentlemanly. What are common sense, ability, and past services compared to that ? Your obedient servant, A CAD.
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Bibliographic details
Star (Christchurch), Issue 599, 23 April 1870, Page 3
Word Count
382THE GENTLEMANLY INTEREST. Star (Christchurch), Issue 599, 23 April 1870, Page 3
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