A DEFINITION OF A GENTLEMAN CARDINAL NEWMAN It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain. This description is both refined and, as far as it goes, accurate. He is mainly occupied in merely removing the obstacles which hinder the free and unembarrassed action of those about him; and he concurs with their movements rather than takes the initiative himself. His benefits may be considered as parallel to what are called comforts or conveniences in arrangements of a personal nature-like an easy-chair or a good fire, which do their part in dispelling cold and fatigue, though 10 nature provides both means of rest and animal heat without them. The true gentleman in like manner carefully avoids whatever may cause a jar or a jolt in the minds of those with whom he is cast-all clashing of opinion, or collision of feeling, all restraint, or suspicion, or gloom, or resentment; his great concern being to 15 make every one at his ease and at home. He has his eyes on all his company; he is tender toward the bashful, gentle toward the distant, and merciful toward the absurd; he can recollect to whom he is speaking; he guards against unseasonable allusions, or topics which may irritate; he is seldom prominent in conver20 sation, and never wearisome. He makes light of favors while he does them, and seems to be receiving when he is conferring. He never speaks of himself except when compelled; never defends himself by a inere retort. He has no ears for slander or gossip; is scrupulous in imputing motives to those who interfere 25 with him; and interprets everything for the best. He is never mean or little in his disputes; never takes unfair advantage; never mistakes personalities or sharp sayings for arguments; or insinuates evil which he dare not say out. From a long-sighted prudence he observes the maxim of the ancient sage, that we 30 should ever conduct ourselves toward our enemy as if he were one day to be our friend. He has too much good sense to be affronted at insults; he is too well employed to remember injuries; and too indolent to bear malice. He is patient, forbearing, and resigned, on philosophical principles; he submits to pain because it is inevitable, to bereavement because it is irreparable, and to death because it is his destiny. If he engages in controversy of any kind, his disciplined intellect preserves him from the blundering discourtesy of better, perhaps, but less educated minds; who, like blunt weapons, tear and hack instead of cutting clean, who mistake the point in argument, waste their strength on trifles, misconceive their adversary, and leave the question more involved than they find it. He may be right or wrong in his opinion, 10 but he is too clear-headed to be unjust; he is as simple as he is forcible, and as brief as he is decisive. Nowhere shall we find greater candor, consideration, indulgence: he throws himself into the minds of his opponents; he accounts for their mistakes. He knows the weakness of human reason as well as its strength, its 15 province, and its limits. NOTES AND QUESTIONS Biography. John Henry Newman (1801-1890), a distinguished clergyman, was born in London. He was graduated from Trinity College, Oxford, and became noted as a scholar and a preacher. He is well-known as the author of the familiar hymn, "Lead, Kindly Light," which he wrote while on a voyage in the Mediterranean Sea. He was made a Cardinal in 1879. This selection is from his book, The Idea of a University. Discussion. 1. Make a list of five suggestions learned from Cardinal Newman which you resolve to put into practice, choosing the ones that apply especially to you; keep the list before you and check up on yourself. (Like means were used by Washington and Franklin to improve their conduct.) 2. What undesirable qualities does he mention that you have perhaps discovered in yourself-or in others—and that you have determined to make war against? 3. What useful hints have you learned for making and preserving friendships, and for the treatment of enemies? 4. What examples of fine behavior have you witnessed in school today? 5. Memorize and apply Tennyson's lines about manners: "For manners are not idle, but the fruit Of loyal nature and of noble mind." 6. Have you observed in your school social-affairs that everyone has a good time when all the boys and girls "have eyes on all the company," instead of separating into cliques? 7. What does this selection add to your idea of service? 8. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: initiative; allusions; retort; insinuate; indolent; candor; indulgence. 9. Pronounce: affronted; irreparable; adversary; opponents. ABSOLUTION SIEGFRIED SASSOON The anguish of the earth absolves our eyes 5 Horror of wounds and anger at the foe There was an hour when we were loath to part NOTES AND QUESTIONS Biography. Siegfried Sassoon (1886-), Robert Graves, and Robert Nichols form a trio of young English soldier-poets whose verses picture vividly their experiences in the World War. Sassoon's poetry is marked by the absence of all feeling of hate or anger. The Old Huntsman reflects his early love for the chase and was greatly admired by his fellow-soldiers in France. Counter-Attack, with an introduction by his good friend, Robert Nichols, was written to help end war forever. Sassoon was a member of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and served in France and in Palestine. Discussion. 1. Shakespeare said, "Sweet are the uses of adversity”; what has the poet won out of the anguish of war? 2. Because of his experience what value does he place upon time? 3. Which lines do you think especially beautiful? 4. Library reading: A description of Sassoon by Robert Nichols in the Review of Reviews, March, 1919. 5. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: absolution. ABRAHAM LINCOLN WALKS AT MIDNIGHT (In Springfield, Illinois) VACHEL LINDSAY It is portentous, and a thing of state, 5 Or by his homestead, or in shadowed yards, A bronzed, lank man! His suit of ancient black, He cannot sleep upon his hillside now. 15 And we who toss and lie awake for long His head is bowed. He thinks on men and kings. The sins of all the war-lords burn his heart. 25 He cannot rest until a spirit-dawn Shall come the shining hope of Europe free; It breaks his heart that kings must murder still, Seem yet in vain. And who will bring white peace NOTES AND QUESTIONS Biography. Vachel Lindsay (1879-) is one of America's best known modern poets. He has recited his poems in many cities of the United States and in many of its bypaths. In the summer of 1912 he walked from Illinois to New Mexico, distributing his rimes and speaking in behalf of the "gospel of beauty." A Handy Guide for Beggars is his story of a similar journey, through Georgia, and in it he tells how everywhere, like the minstrels of old, he received hospitality in exchange for his songs. His poetry breathes a spirit of human brotherhood that reminds one of Lincoln and Emerson and Walt Whitman. General William Booth Enters Heaven and Other Poems, The Congo and Other Poems, and The Chinese Nightingale and Other Poems are titles of his collections of poetry. The poet's home is in Springfield, Illinois, the former home and the burial-place of Abraham Lincoln. Discussion. 1. Abraham Lincoln typifies the life and yearnings of the common people, and for this reason he has appealed to the poets who help interpret life for us; what poets have made Lincoln the subject of poems? 2. Why does the poet feel that Lincoln cannot “sleep upon the hill"? 3. What will bring rest to him again? 4. What is being done today to bring about the "spirit-dawn"? 5. What answer would you like to make to the poet's question? 6. What do you think of the description of Lincoln as an example of the author's ability to draw a graphic word-picture? How do you think his art-study is helpful to him? 7. What lines do you like especially well? 8. Another modern poet, Arthur Guiterman, in "He Leads Us Still," has also expressed the idea that Lincoln's spirit lives today. The poem closes "He leads us still! O'er chasms yet unspanned |