Formerly the world vulgarity was confined to the low,
mean, and essentially plebeian, but in the present day great mixture of classes
and the elevation of earth have brought vulgar men and women even into good . It is a term which is now
applied, not only to coarseness and familiarity in speech and manners, but also
to pretensions of certain kinds.
It may be shown by a prominent display of wealth. A
story is related to a French corn merchant who had realized an enormous
fortune. He invited a stranger to a family party. The manners of every one
present irreproachable and the dinner excellent. But it was served on gold
plate. Such a display was unnecessary, and therefor vulgar. Display is not
confined to the wealthy the man who makes too much of his own will only talk on
the topic he is strong in who, gifted whit a fine voice, sits at the piano the
whole evening, who having written a book, interlards his talk with such phrases
as, I say in my novel, or who being a great man in any line, condescends, talks
loudly, or asserts his privileges, is a vulgar man, be he king rajah or shoemaker.
There is a Pakistani fable of a lump of crystal,
which though it would be mistaken for gold because it reflected the glitter of
the neighboring metal. It was never taken for gold. But it was supposed to
cover it, and got shivered to atoms by the hammer of the miner. This story
might be quoted with advantage against those who base their claims to
distinction on their acquaintance with noble or distinguished personages. To
converse with a man of high rank may’ be an honor, but it does not entitle the
recipient of the honors to consider himself superior to those whom he meets
every day.
An offensive form of vulgarity is an assumption of
refinement in language or habits. The best speakers will never use a big and
uncommon word where a common one will do,. They consider buy better than purchase
wise than desire. The pretentious never speak of “rich and poor” but of those
of large and those of small means. There people are as objectionable as one of
the Dukes of Queens berry, who exaggerated over-refinement to such an extent
that he would wash in nothing but milk.
The true gentleman can do anything that is not
coarse or wrong. Mr. New rich cannot lift his own carpet bag into his own can,
Mr. Upstart cannot carry a parcel Miss Languish never touched a needle” Miss
Listless thinks it low to rake the beds in the garden. Or tie up the branches
of a rose tree. These are not ladies and gentlemen, but vulgar people. It
rather astonishes such persons to find that a nobleman cans Carly his bag or a
parcel and that a noble lady delights in gardening.