Let  us  rather  endeavor  to  ascertain  what  is
meant  at  present  by  those  who  choose  their
words  with  care  and  knowledge,  when  they
use  the  term  gentleman  in  its  highest  accepta-
tion. lYow  may  see  it  frequently  Ktated  that""^
gentleman  means  gentle  man,  which  is  neither  j  ^?*^^
etymologically  correct,  nor  true  as  to  its  pre-
sent peculiar  meaning.  Gentleness  is  indeed
an  element  of  the  true  gentleman,  as  we  shall
amply  see ;  but  it  alone  does  not  constitute  the
gentleman.     If  it  did,  we  would  not  stand  in

Jhesus  was  borne,  very  God  and  man  ;  after  his  manhoode
kynge  of  the  land  of  Jude  and  of  Jues,  gentilman  by  his
modre  Mary,  prince  of  cote  armure."


18  CHARACTER    OF    THE    GENTLEMAN.
need  of  the  word.  ']^he  Ayord  o-ontleTnnn  was
formed  before  o;entIe  came  to  signify  kindli-
ness Qf_soulj^but  it  is  nevertheless  instructive
to  trace  all  the  meanings  now  assigned  to  the
words  derived  from  the  Latin  gens^  through
their  different  changes.  Let  me  advise  you
to  reflect  on  the  meaning  of  Gentle,  and  of
the  different  meanings  of  the  corresponding
words  in  other  languages,  and  their  gradual
h  growth  out  of  that  first  and  Roman  root  Gens.
