THE CHARACTER OF A GENTLE MAN

A gentle man is one who never inflicts pains. This description is both noble and as far as it goes, accurate. He is mainly occupied in rumoring the obstacles which hinder the free and unembarrassed action of those about him; and he concurs with their movements rather than takes the initiatives himself. His benefits may be considered as parallel to what are called comforts or conveniences in arrangement of personal nature; like a chair or good fire, which do their part in dispelling cold and fatigues, thought, nature provides both means of rest and animal heat without them.
The true gentle is like a manner carefully avoids whatever may cause a jar or a jolt in the mind of those with whom he associates; all dashing of opinion, or collision of feeling, all restraint, or suspicion, or gloom, or resentment; His great concern being to make everyone at ease and at home. He has had his eyes on all his company; He is tender towards the bashful, gentle towards the distant and merciful towards the absurd; He can recollect to whom he is speaking; He guards against unreasonable allusions; or topics which may irritate, he is seldom prominent in conversation, and never wearisome. He makes light of favors while does them, and seems to be receiving when he is conferring. he never speak of himself except when compelled, never defend himself by a mere retort, he has no ears for slander or gossip, is unwilling to input motives to those who interfere with him , and interprets every thing for the best. He is never mean or little in his dispute. Never fakes unfair advantage, never mistakes personalities or sharp saying for agreement, or insinuates evil which he dare not say out.
From a far-seeing providence, he observes the maxim of the ancient sage, that we should ever conduct ourselves towards our enemy as if he were one day to be our friend. He has too much good sense to be affronted by insult, he is too well employed to remember injuries and too tolerance to bear malice.
He is patient for bearing and resigned, on philosophical principles, he submits to pain, because it is inevitable, to be bereavement, because it is irreparable, and to date, because it is his destroy. If he engaged 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, mistake the point in argument, waste their-strength on trifles, misconceive their adversary and leave the question more involved than they can find it.
He may be right or wrong in his opinion, but he is too cear-headed to be unjust; he is as simple as he is for able, and as brief as he is decisive. No where shall be find greater can dour, 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 province and its limit.