New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-07
TITHLAR HOAORS.


Charles Lamb once astouished the good, erudits
and supplemented George Dyer by telling him that
"it was rumored that he was TO be made baronet."
"Ohi Mr.. Lamb" said George, THAT would never
do al all; could not think Of it," But they will
not ask your consent" responded Lamb; hey will
make you one whether you will OF not" Great was
Mr. Dyers distress aud apprehension at this probable
misfortune; aud in view Of e similar peril, wo can
fully sympathize with Mr. Cyrus w. Field. As a
citizen of this most Democratic Republic, be cannot
legally become Sir Cyrus but what II the Queen in
spite of his protestations, should command him TO be
dubbed before no can manage 10 escape ont Of
her realmi Suppose he should be abducted, and
carried in the dead Of night 10 some chapel, and put
through" Gas VIC say in American with all the re-
morseess secrecy with which other men have been
tortured by inqustions and sarchambers, or as I'M
willing heather have been baptized by ovcr.zeaous
missionaries The baronetcy once in the Field fam
ly how could they possibly get rid Of til The eldest
sons Of the eldest sons would be baronets TO the end
of time and by that very misfortune prevented from
running for Congress with the slightest hope OF sue
cess No party could possibly take them up for fear
Of the satirical raking which they would get in the
opposition newspapers Plain Mr. Field Is fairly en-
titled TO everybody good wishes and as Mr. George
Peabody has thus far escaped tie elevation, We
trust that tho hero Of the ocean telegraph may be
equally lucky.
We suppose that no Englishman (unless he he's
lived here) can appreciate the utter indifference to
titular distinctions which is part Of the nature OF
every intelligent American. How cheeply We hold
them is proved by the 'iSash facility with which. in
our own way, we bestOw them-by our nnumenble
" Honorabes" and Esquires" The first of these
handles is submitted TO partly for the sake of con-
venience 1t indicates that at some time in his life tho
bearer has been in Office and serves to distinguish
him from other persons Of the same name who have
always kept private station. Esquire means,
with u.s. no more than "Mr," and Except in college
catalogues, where it stands for Master Of Arts, y
"Mr." means nothing at all, save that the name to
which 1t is preiKed is that of man and not
of a woman, boy. Titular distinction is
not necessarily folly, under certain forms OF
government; but these FORMS by tho blessing of Prov
idence do net happen 70 DO our own. Our great mon
are known by the honest names which their fathers
and godathers gave them and will continue to DO so
known by coming generations. There is a classical
simplicity and severity in this which commended It.
self to the good Of Washington who was never
pleased 10 be ssluted as " Your Exceency." 1t was
not until the Roman Empire at its last gasp that
Counts" and dukes" began to multiply. Real
merit can safely afford to dispense with these distnc-
TONS az we SEQ in the case of celebrated Bishops
How many people know the Episcopal title OF fene-
Ion, Of Hurd, of warburton, ofJeromy Tayori How
hard II Is even now for us to speak OF
lord Macsulsy"-how long would it be
IT eli
our mouths The names By which fame was won are
those by which with us 1t is perpetuated. American
Ysst lhs Pa9tsr, s, We believe tho QRls k:S9ia'a'