But the natural desire of that culmination of man which we call gentleman is to beat his adversary fairly.

A gentleman would rather be beaten fairly than beat unfairly.

Is not that your thought ?" "Yes," replied Kenelm, firmly; and then, beginning to philosophize, he added, "And it stands to reason; because if I beat a fellow unfairly, I don't really beat him at all." "Excellent! But suppose that you and another boy go into examination upon Caesar's Commentaries or the multiplication table, and the other boy is cleverer than you, but you have taken the trouble to learn the subject and he has not: should you say you beat him unfairly ?" Kenelm meditated a moment, and then said decidedly, "No." "That which applies to the use of your brains applies equally to the use of your fists.

Do you comprehend me ?" "Yes, sir; I do now." "In the time of your namesake, Sir Kenelm Digby, gentlemen wore swords, and they learned how to use them, because, in case of quarrel, they had to fight with them.

Nobody, at least in England, fights with swords now.