[To TUB EDITOR OF Till n EPICOTATOR..]
SIR,—There seems no doubt that Dekker• in describing Christ as the first true gentleman meant the first man who was truly "gentle" in the sense in which the word is used, for instance, in The Tempest by Ferdinand, when he speaks of Miranda as "Ten times more gentle than her father's crabbed." To prevent misunderstanding, Dekker enumerates the qualities which, in his opinion, are comprised in " gentleness." The term "gentleman" has now an entirely different connotation, from that which it had when the lines quoted in your article of last week were written, and, though quite appropriate then, is now out of place if applied to a divine person, even though its meaning be, carefully and reverently explained and guarded, as is the case in your article. To make this clear, I will only refer to such expressions as "gentleman rider," "gentleman jockey," "gentleman usher," "a gentleman's gentleman," and the like. In Elizabethan times the grand old name of gentleman had not acquired any of these debasing associa- tions, and could be used with perfect propriety of Christ. In King Lear Edgar says "The prince of darkness is a gentleman," by which anparently he means that the Prince of Darkness is raised above the common herd of men by his position and eminence. " Modo he's called, and Mahn." It would be extremely difficult—probably impossible—to frame a generally acceptable definition of the word " gentleman " in ordinary parlance when used in a good sense ; but it may be said that commonly the word is intended to describe a man in whom good birth is accompanied by certain appropriate qualities, such as chivalrous instincts and fine feelings, without any reference to the attributes of softness, meekness, patience, humility, and tranquillity of spirit. I hope you will understand that I am in no way attempting to find fault with your article, but only pointing out that, whatever may have been the case in the Elizabethan age, the word •' gentle- man" is not a suitable one to describe the character of Christ in the twentieth century.—I am, Sir, &c.,
V. DE S. FOWIED.
New University Club, St. Tames's Street.
[We cannot agree. Though the word " gentleman" has a few degrading associations such as those enumerated by our' correspondent, they are far outweighed by associations which are ennobling. Conduct unbecoming a gentleman is still everywhere disgraceful, and it is still the highest praise' wherever the English language is spoken to say of a man that "he acted like a gentleman throughout." In our opinion, the word still keeps its best meaning. Long may that meaning remain in the ascendant; for if the word lost its present significance, where could we find a substitute P—ED.' Spectator.]
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