A friend of mine, not long ago, coming over from Ireland, heard a man
asking, in reference to another, who he was. "I don't know," was the
reply; "but he's quite a gentleman. He always wears a tall hat." Indeed,
there are those who seem to be incapable of valuing their fellow-men by
anything except their clothes. A story is told of a Persian prince,
which well illustrates such worldliness. Dressed as a poor man, this
prince went to a feast. He was pushed here and there, could not get to
the table, and had soon to withdraw. On going home, he dressed himself
in his best, placing jewelled slippers on his feet, and putting on a
cloth-of-gold cloak. Then he returned to the feast, where matters were
immediately altered. The guests made room, and the host, rushing up,
cried, "Welcome, my lord! What will your lordship please to eat?" The
prince's answer was very expressive. Stretching out his foot, so that
his slipper sparkled and glittered, he took his golden robe in his hand,
and said with bitter irony, "Welcome, my lord coat! welcome, most
excellent robe! What will your lordship please to eat? For," said he,
turning to his surprised host, "I ought to ask my coat what it will eat,
since the welcome was solely to it."
742
We never teach men to be gentlemen, but we teach them everything else;
and they never pique themselves so much on all the rest, as on knowing
how to be gentlemen. They pique themselves only on knowing the one thing
they have not learnt.
743
The true gentleman is he who does not plume himself on anything.
--_Rochefoucauld._
744
Let him speak who received; let the giver hold his peace.
745
Give freely to him that deserveth well and asketh nothing; and that is a
way of giving to thyself.
--_Fuller._
746
Better a penny given with a smile than a pound given with a frown.
747
To give so as to bestow a favor and not create an obligation, is a
delicate art.
748
He gives twice who gives quickly, according to the proverb; but a gift
not only given quickly but unexpectedly, is the most welcome of all.
749
He who sedulously attends, pointedly asks, calmly speaks, coolly
answers, and ceases when he has no more to say, is in possession of some
of the best mental gifts of mankind.
750