The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. 20, November 14, 1840Various
History
The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. 20, November 14, 1840
Various
Ireland -- Periodicals
We have stated that nobody can say precisely what a fine lad really is,
and this is true, generally speaking. But there is notwithstanding some
degree of meaning attached to the term: it means, so far as it means any
thing, a soft, meek, simpering, unresisting creature, who will allow
himself to be kicked and cuffed about by any body and every body without
resenting it, and who will take quietly any given quantity of abuse you
choose to heap upon him. This we imagine to be the true reason why people
call him a fine lad, just because he offers them, whether right or wrong,
no resistance; hence it is too, we have no doubt, that he is so general a
favourite.
As most people have a great fancy for having as much of their own way as
possible, and as they find themselves much jostled and opposed in the
indulgence of this laudable propensity by those who are bent on having
the same enjoyment, they are delighted when they meet with one who
readily makes way for them, and reward his simplicity by clapping him on
the head, and calling him a fine lad.
The fine lad is a goose, poor fellow--no doubt of it--a decided goose,
but he cannot help that: it is no fault of his; he means well, and is
a most civil and obliging creature--all smiles and good nature. Being
in reality good for little or nothing, having no activity, no tact
whatever of any kind, the fine lad would in most cases be rather ill off
as regards his temporalities, but for his steadiness. He is generally
steady, and of sober and regular habits; and this, together with his
extremely civil demeanour and inoffensive disposition, helps him on, and
secures him in comfortable and respectable bread. You will thus for the
most part find the fine lad in a well-doing way--in a good situation
probably, and with every prospect of advancement. His employer likes
him for his integrity and docility. He confesses that he is by no means
clever, in fact that he is rather stupid; but, then, he is a fine lad.
This character he gives him to every body, and every body acknowledges
its justice, and calls him a fine lad too.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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