A Perfect Gentleman. 97

gentle in spirit, in manners, in making
known his own opinion, as well as in opposing
the opinions of others.”

Coleridge remarks that “Religion is the
most gentlemanly thing in the world; it alone
will gentilise, when unmixed with cant.”

Dr. Norman Macleod writes : a Gentleman
is “considerate and courteous, with a quiet
dignified self-respect.”

Miss Muloch, again, writes: a Gentleman
has ‘‘a natural refinement, and an intuitive
wish to give pleasure to others.”

Another writer describes a Gentleman as
one “who never does anything he is ashamed
of, or that would compromise his honour.”

You perceive none of these great author-
ities speak of position, rank, or wealth, of
_ dress or looks, but all of character and con-
duct, for it is these, and not accidental
circumstances of birth or riches, whether
made or inherited, which make the Gentle-
man. Robert Burns was right when, in
passing down Leith Walk, Edinburgh, accom-
panied by a dandzfied companion, he shook
hands with a farmer friend, roughly dressed,
and explained, in reply to the horrified look

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