Being a Man in 1912

In 1912, being a man didn't mean being a guy with a ton of muscles. Being a man meant that you were well dressed and well-mannered. You opened the doors for those behind you, and didn't sit down at the table before you pulled out the chairs, and the ladies were seated. Every gentleman used table-manners, and talked about the most appropriate things in front of women, and other men. The food was eaten in little bites, so that you wouldn't be caught with your mouth full of food. Children, and even teenagers had to use these manners, as taught by their mothers and fathers. When the women were done, the men got up and pulled the seats out for the women. When going out for a ride in the country or going shopping, the men would open and close the doors for the ladies and whenever there was one there, the man would drive. Being like this doesn't mean you act like a snob, but this means that you respect others around you. You can teach your children to open the doors for others, carry things for others, and treating everyone with respect and dignity, as if he or she was a king or queen. This also doesn't mean that you must behave like that in EVERY situation. If you put the rules of a gentleman into practice, you'll be well respected. This also pleases God, respecting and honoring his created people his a great service to him. He said, "Whatsoever you have done to the least of these, you did unto Me."

What Would You Do ?

What would you do if you were on the TITANIC and knew that the ship was going to sink ? Most say that they would stay and some say that they would get into a lifeboat. Right now, just close your eyes and envision yourself on the tilting decks and think about your character and let it take hold of your imagination. You see the water getting closer people are starting to panic as people realize that they are doomed. Soon, you see the water getting steadily nearer and creeping up the decks. And you see the last lifeboat being loaded. What would you do ? If you are a woman or child, I'd advise that you get in but if you're a man, you should stay, pinpoint the location of a lifeboat and then get in the water and swim straight towards it. Almost none of you will face this decision but think about it like this, if God told you that you have an hour and a half to live, what would you do ?

John Harper led many others on board to Christ; Joseph Bruce Ismay the owner of the ship helped others into the lifeboats and then got into a lifeboat himself leaving 1,500 people to die. Benjamin Guggenheim dressed in his best suit and went down like a gentleman; Captain Smith gave his last command saying "Be British". Thomas Andrews helped women and children into the lifeboats and then stared at his creation as it was being destroyed under his very feet; Mr. Carter stepped into a lifeboat half an hour before his family was able to get into their's. Mrs. Strauss refused to leave her husband and they died together; Mr. Spedden said that they were going for a boat ride to convince his wife to get in. There were Gentlemen and Cowards; which would you be ?

The Gentleman

Benjamin Guggenheim was born on October 26, 1865 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the Iron Baron: Meyer Guggenheim. Ben was inherited his fortune after his father died. He married Florette Seligmon in 1894. He later had three daughters named Benita Rosalind,
Marguerita, and Barbara Hazel Guggenheim. They lived in New York but his business as President of the International Steam Pump Company kept him in Paris so he rented an apartment and came home on occasions. He was coming home on the TITANIC to see his family with his valet, Victor Giglio, his chauffer, Rena Pernot and mistress French singer, Leontine Aubert, and her maid, Emma Sagesser. Giglio and Ben shared B-28 while Aubert and Sagesser shared B-35. Both pairs slept through the collision with the iceberg and were woken up by their room steward, Henry Samuel Etches. After seeing the women away on boat No. 7, Ben and Giglio whom realized the danger went down into their cabins, took off their life jackets, and changed into their evening clothes. Ben later said when asked why he didn't have his life jacket on, he said "It was too uncomfortable: we have dressed now in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen. he later said to Steward Etches "If anything should happen to me, I'd like my wife to know that I have acted descently. Benjamin Guggenheim and Victor Giglio were last seen sitting in deck chairs sipping brandy and smoking their pipes as the deck listed beneath them. Their bodies were never recovered. Ben's three daughters inherited 450,000 dollars each.