The gentleman at home

Hello there,

As you are probably asking yourself at this stage of your gentlemanly activities “When will I get to unwind and take my tie off?”, and the answer is: at home.

A gentleman’s home is his castle, or in my case, it actually is a castle.  However even if your house lacks a moat, turrets and throne it is still your place to unwind from the days activities and take your tie off.

Castle Brixley

Now the most important part of unwinding is comfortable attire.  We may be at home but we gentlemen are still civilized.

Left: The shorter smoking jacket. Right: The full length robe.

Homely attire should combine comfortable pants (suitable pajama pants can suffice as long as they have creases ironed into them) with a warm slipper or soft loafer.

Here we see the the winter gentleman compared with the carefree, poolside summer gentleman.

Now you are meant to be relaxed so take the tie off but maintain the collared shirt.  Around this a gentleman should typically wear  either a dressing gown or smoking jacket.

Make your look unique but within reason. Variety is the spice of life.

It’s that simple.  Now you can pour yourself a healthy glass of Scotch, light up your pipe and relax, safe in the knowledge that you are still upholding the lofty requirements that make you a gentleman.

So there you have it.

G.O. Brixley

Gentleman vocabulary

Hello there,

As a gentleman you will no doubt read many books (from your private library) and have a vast vocabulary with which to best relay the Queen’s English.

However there are some words or phrases that have dropped out of common gentlemanly use and that you should be aware of how to use properly.

Bully: Adjective

To be used in place of ‘very good’.  For example if I asked a friend “How did you find the soiree last night?” they might reply “I had a bully time” to which I would reply “Bully”.

Bully!

Gordon Bennett

To be used as an exclamation of surprise or incredulity.  This is a good replacement for the more explicit exclamations that one can use.  A good supplement especially where ladies are present.

Gordon Bennett. Not as shocked as his name would otherwise suggest.

Chicanery: Noun

A type of deceit or trickery.  To be used when referring to either a deceitful act that one has perpetrated on your good self or when referring to the Pakistani cricket team.

A gentleman's expression after just uncovering some chicanery.

Spondulicks: Noun

When doing business with the Yanks one might have to make sure they know this word as it is a term they use for money.  Well at least they did use it when I was there.  Although that was before they became United.

Reagan knew the value of a spondulick.

Rambunctious: Adjective

Another word for loud and boisterous.  A good way to describe what happened at your last soiree after you drank all the alcohol, “It got rather rambunctious”.  Or to describe your friend who can’t hold his Scotch at the aforementioned soiree, “Well, he got quite rambunctious after he drank all the 21 year old.”

Quite the rambunctious party.

Well there is your first collection of good words to use and know the meaning of.

Please feel free to add your own to this post.

Until then.

G.O. Brixley

Gentlemanly occupations.

Why hullo there,

Whilst at my place of work today, I realised that there are but few suitable places of work for a gentleman. A gentleman must have a job, otherwise how else would he afford expensive scotches, liqueurs, tailored suits and the finest Cubans (who personally roll cigars for him)?

HL Griffith would take time to read the news to his cigar rollers before heading to his place of work. His factory has now been shut down for undisclosed reasons.

All the gentlemanly deeds in the world can be undone by a job that meets not the lofty prestige attached to a true gentleman. Of course, one would always open a door for the fairer sex, but would one open doors for people for a living?

Below is an excerpt of a list of gentlemanly jobs.

1. World War 2 fighter pilot,
2. Lead trumpet/singer in a swing band.
3. Physicist between the years of 1890 and 1925,
4. Jeweller,
5. Cobbler,
6. Socialist Socialite
7. Golfer, Tennis player or pre-1960s cricketer

Rene Lacoste works on his backhand in gentlemanly fashion.

Now, I know what you’re saying, we do not all have sporting ability, jewelers’ dexterity, ‘old  money’ or the ability to choose what era we were born in. These are all good points, and therein lies today’s lesson.

Since 1945 the need for World War 2 fighter pilots has dried up.

A gentleman is not required to wear his best-tailored suit to his job. Nor is he required to perform tasks that were in great demand in 19th century London but have limited relevance today. A gentleman may save smoking cigars, drinking scotch whilst sailing the Caribbean in his yacht and lounging in his expensive, mahogany-laden drawing room for the evenings if he truly must. But a true gentleman will bring a touch of gentlemanly class to however he spends his time. Be it by opening the door for a lady, wearing a collared shirt while everyone else basks in polar fleece and cross trainers, or having a cigar for lunch instead of a sandwich.

Nothing got Einstein's brain more ready for equations than holding his pipe in front of his sternum before having a puff

Having said that, do not discount throwing it all in, starting out again as a shoe-shiner and working your way up to the top of a multi-national steam-ship courier company… It’s a well-documented and virtually fail-safe career plan.

Until next time,

H.L. Griffith

5 items a gentleman should have.

Hello there,

I was riding the streetcar the other day on my way to a Scotch tasting when it occurred to me that I could think of 5 items in my boudoir that a gentleman could not go without.

And here they are.

1. A humidor.  The cigar humidor is not only an essential for the gentleman, it is a requirement.  Where else would one put their cigars?  Unless you can set your private sauna to 70% humidity (which is a good idea actually) you should invest in a humidor.  You don’t want to be smoking brittle, dried up cigars do you? Exactly.

 

One of the great gentlemanly activities is rearranging your humidor.

 

2. A desk.  This might seem like an obvious thing but all gentlemen should have desks.  A desk can be used for many things; writing letters to people, signing heavy leather bound documents, putting your feet on after a long day of gentlemanly activities and putting your newly acquired humidor on.

 

I suggest mahogany.

 

3. A serving tray.  As you should be well on your way to a healthy Scotch and spirit collection you will no doubt need a serving tray.  Pick the Scotch you enjoy to drink most regularly, a vodka, a gin and 4 glasses on your  serving tray along with a bottle of mixer on hand and some ice.  This will ensure that you can fix a drink at the drop of a hat.  Which leads me to my next point.

4.  A hat and coat stand.  You wouldn’t want to be left holding your hat and coat, so why make your guests?  A simple coat stand will alleviate all your problems.  Also you can practice your ‘James Bond hat throw’ every time you enter.

 

A coat stand. Now get some coats.

 

5. A good chair.  As a gentleman you will have to sit a fair bit – it comes with the territory – and you don’t want to be sitting on an uncomfortable chair.  So make sure you have a well made, ideally leather, desk chair.  Chairs are an important thing for people in your position.  Kings have their thrones, directors have those collapsible chairs, Kirk had his captain’s swivel chair and Roosevelt had a wheelchair.  The point? You need a good chair.

 

Fit for a gentleman.

 

So there you have it.  Collect the whole set and you’ll be set.

G.O. Brixley

Shaving: The Gentleman way

Hello fellows,

Since a clean appearance is one of the leading priorities of the gentleman, an upkeep of facial hair growth is an everyday necessity, although it must be done with style and/or panache.

 

Cary Grant in a lather

 

Many forms of shaving have been presented to men over the past two centuries (before that most gentlemen sported the biblical look) although efficiency has become a primary concern at times like these. Many razor companies have introduced shaving utensils that take out the effort and overall chic of shaving. The gentleman must submit himself to shaving properly.

 

A German Dovo Solingen Razor

 

 

Steson’s Little Wonder Razor

 

The straight razor was the most common utensil until 1950 when the safety razor was introduced and took the elegance out of shaving. Please note: Straight razors can be dangerous if you’re a complete philistine, although for the amateur gentleman accidents can happen.

 

Van-Gogh wasn't a philistine but he was a drunk. Don't drink and shave.

 

A leather strop will also prove useful when sharpening your razor to avoid cropping your face with a butter knife.  A Badger brush is also needed for lathering and applying shaving soap to your hairy areas. Please note: use traditional barber soap for maximum smoothness of cheeks.

 

A badger brush.

 

 

A leather strop.

 

If kept it to a strict routine any gentleman has the potential to succeed in shaving appropriately.  Also please remember to save the Scotch until after you shave.

Cheers,

C.M. Badger

Breakfast of gentlemen

Hello there,
Someone asked me the other day ‘What do gentleman eat for breakfast? Surely it’s not Scotch.’  The answer is no, it’s not Scotch. But it can be.

 

Breakfast? Sure why not.

 

A gentleman’s breakfast is not a definite recipe. One might have english muffins with jam one morning and the next morning they might have marmalade. Diversity at it’s best.

 

A good looking spread.

 

Accompanying the main breakfast should be a nice tea. Tea being one of the only nonalcoholic drinks permissible for a gentleman to drink.

In general terms, food is a good breakfast for a gentlemen but it’s not a necessary.  For instance you might have a smoke (pipe, cigarette or cigar) with a black coffee, the only permissible type of coffee a gentleman may consume.

 

Frank Sinatra's breakfast on the go.

 

Or one might have a double Scotch and a quick 9 holes for breakfast. Variety is the spice of life.

 

A quick 9 holes of breakfast with friends.

 

Talking about spice, a nice vindaloo is a good pick-me-up after a night of merriment.

So there you have it.

G.O. Brixley

Getting around.

Good day,

A gentleman is always in high demand. One can barely go an hour without being invited to a soiree, asked for his urgent attendance at a golf tournament or challenged to a race around the world. Hence a gentleman must know how to travel in style.

 

If your acquaintances at the Reform Club set you a challenge, don’t hesitate to enjoy a dram during the undertaking.

 

Unless absolutely necessary, a gentleman must avoid buses and electric trains. Trams (henceforth referred to as streetcars) are acceptable only if they have a dining carriage. Steam trains may also be used at a pinch.

 

Some gentleman on their way to an urgent cigar forum

 

If the requisite public transport is not available, a gentleman should procure a handsome cab or a private car to transport himself. Failing this, a swift walk to your destination will not only earn you a well-deserved cigar but give your moustache a smooth, svelte appearance upon arrival.

 

Gentleman do not need fancy “altimeters” or “copilots”. A well tied tie and a protective leather cap is all this gentleman needs.

 

International travel is another question altogether. If a biplane or hot air balloon is not available, one must politely refuse the request of the foreign dignitary and suggest a more suitable time or location. If, though, exceptional circumstances arise such as an invitational as St Andrews, a steam ship is a gentleman’s only option.

 

This steam ship has a chimney connected to the smoking room.

 

H.L. Griffiths

H.L. Griffith

Hello there,

I would like to welcome the latest contributor to The Gentleman, H.L. Griffith.

H.L. Griffith and I first met at a cocktail party whilst traveling the subcontinent.  He has written for all the most famous literary journals (and now The Gentleman) and won an academy award in a one off category, ‘Best Musk”.

 

A rare picture of G.O. Brixley, H.L. Griffith and a young Winston Churchill. We are the young ones in the background.

 

H.L. Griffith’s first post will be on ‘transportation’ and you can expect it tomorrow.  So until then…

G.O. Brixley

The casual foot.

Hello there,

In these cold times it can be hard to put on your usual summer plimsolls without getting home after a long day of gentlemanly activities with sodden, dirty shoes and cold toes.

 

A fine pair of brown leather shoes

 

However there is an solution to your problems.  Not wanting to look too formal (having to wear your nice black Italian leather suit shoes), too informal (having to wear your tennis volleys) or too bogan (trainers) the answer comes in the form of a nice brown leather shoe.

 

A fine pair of brogues.

 

Nothing says comfort, warmth and leisurely elegance like a good pair of brown leather shoes.  So when you’re not playing golf, tennis, or attending a winter ball say hello to your new water-proof, dirt-proof and bogan-proof footwear.

G.O. Brixley

Submissions

Hello there,
I know it’s been a couple of days without a post but don’t despair, more are on their way.
The reason for this short sabbatical is because I have been setting up some of my close friends to write submissions for The Gentleman. This is to ease the pressure for yours truly and to keep a consistent flow of gentlemanly post heading your way.

G.O. Brixley