The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-11-03
ETIQUETTE OF Address

There Is an evident tendency with uR
democratic Americans to supply our
want Of authorized social distinctions
with titular appellatlves, which have
no warrant beyond the impudent as
sumption Of those who take or the fiat
tering courtesy Of those who give them.
The titles which distinguish rank In the
army and navy, and are OF obvious use,
are the only ones recognized by Ameri.
can law. The 'Excellencies' and Hon.
orables' 80 profasely distributed among
the numerous successful asplrants for
popular favor are, whether given 10 the
august chief magistrate OF the republic,
or the illlterate aiderman's assistant OF
the lowest municipality, equally with
out sanction.
These unauthorized titles are used
with the profusion with which they arc
bestowed. While 10 most of those
countries where social distinctions are
recognized by law, It Is considered good
breeding to avoid the frequent repeti-
ton In conversation Of the titles which
mark them, In the United States the
various denominations Of fanollul rank
are heard In every phrase.
The ordinary Sir and Madam to
one OF which we all consider ourselves
more or less entitled, are uttered with
frequency and an emphasis which,
though evidently intended TO be cour.
teous, would be regarded In England
as impolite. We seem to have borrow.
ed our manners In this respect from the
French, who lose no opportunity OF an
nouncing the Monsieur, Madame"
and 'Mademoiselle,' aud by whom
every garcOn de cGJeand cooks scullion
Is honored with one OF them. Our
English relatives avoid the repetition
Of the Sir Madam and Miss ex-
cept when they desire to express GER
tain degree Of GOODNESS or severity, and
sense OF superiority or inferiorlty,
Servants, they say, must always re-
member their my Lords and my
Ladies' their 'Sirs' and 'Madams,' and
and their 'Masters' and 'Misses,' and
gentlemen as carefully forget them.
The professional title OF Doctor OF
medicine Is never omitted, for the OBJ
vlons reason Of the advantage to him
to whom II belongs, and to others OF
having 1t as widely known as possible.
The Doctors Of divinity and OF civil
law, though the purpose may not be 80
easy TO explain, are generally spoken
Of and 10 by their titles, which, how
ever, should not be very frequently re-
peated In q conversation addressed 10
themselves.
Judge has been greatly vulgarizsd
BY Its indiscriminate use and applica .
lion In America, though never heard
In England, where those who are
dr&ped In the ermlne are honored with
the Itle Of my Lord (nlelMd); and any
man Of taste entitled to 1t would con-
slider himself, doubtless, more honored
by breach Of ceremony in this respect
than by its observance. While In the
performance Of his functions and dur
Ing his tenure Of office, It may be use
full and appropriate that the Judge
should be called Judge;' but when Of
the bench permanently, there can be
no motive for retaining a title to be
banded about with the oontemptuouB
familiarity Of nickname. Governor
Mayor Chancellor and other civil
denominations should likewise be re-
stricted in use to the duration Of Office,
Though 1t may not be good. breeding
10 repeat too frequently In converse.
ton with people the titles which may
distinguish them, II is deemed courte-
Gus to give them all they can claim on
the back Of letters addressed to them.
The President Of the United States,
and Ministers to foreign countries, OF
different grades, have generally The
prefix OF His Excellency' to their
names. For example, It ia usual 10
write His Excelleny. General Ulysses
Grant, President Of The United
States;' or simply, 'Hia EEcellency
the President OF the United States
OF America THE Honorable is
given to the judges OF the Supreme
Court. tho various members OF the Cab.
met, OF the Senate and House OF Rep.
resentatives, the chief ofliCera OF the
State Government, executive, legisla-
tive, and judicial; the mayors, alder.
men, and more particularly u the as
Hlstant alderman Of the most corrupt
municipalities, to lower depth than
which we may be spared the necessity
OF descending. THE Right Reverend
Ia inscribed on every letter to a bishop
Of whatever denomination he may be,
and The Reverend In all addresses to
the clergy. 'The' is an essential part
OF these Inscriptions OF honor, and
should never be omitted.
The collegiate or university dislino-
ton OF Doctor 10 never properly writ
ten In full rs an address, bot ls thus
inscribed: John Smith, Esq, M. D.,
The Rev. Jabez Poudtext, D. D.:' THE
Right Rev. BonIface IEnatius, Episco-
pus, s. T. D.; Timothy Smart, Esu,,
LII. D. 1t Is no compliment 10 those
who have earned the title OF Doctor to
give It indiScrimlnately 10 every horse
drencher and starved apothecary, The
titles "A. b. and "A. M are never adj
ded TO the Auperscrlption OF an ordinary
letter. 'Parson' ls good English word:
but II has been so vulgarlZed and made
a term OF contempt that no clergyman
iB disposed to answer 10 It. Il can only
be respectfully used nowadays thus
associated 'Parson Of the PARISH
Every male person In this country
feels himself entitled to have the ESQ.,
at the end Of bis name; and any one
who prelends 10 exercise his discretion
In the nse OF II must do 30 at his own
peril. Your Irish Bridget Of the kitchen
never falls 10 confer upon her dear
Patrick OF The stable>yard the ESQ.,
and, with q superhuous generosity Of
honor, gives him the prefix Of ME-
and, II she can write at al, will thus
write him down: 'lir. Patrick
O'Shaughnessy, Esp
There are some people who are so
generous OF rank that they besIow It
not only on the husband, who may be
doubtlully entitled to 1t, but also on
the wife, who certainly Ia not. Thus
we may occasionally see the insorlp-
tons: Mrs. Doctor Mrs, Right
Reverend Mrs. Reverend Mrs. Pro.
iessor.' and Mrs. Honorable These
are OF course, inadmisRible 10 polite
society, though they find some warrant
In German usage, which divides the
smallest titular honor Of the man with
the woman; and thus the wife Of Herr
Kenchenlunge Grosenvat, scullIon OF
OF the FIRST cook 10 the Grand Chamber.
lain TO the Grand Duke OF Pumper.
nickel, becomes Mrs. KsnchenIunge
Grosenvat, soulllon OF the FIRST cook 10
the Grand Chamberlain TO the Grand
Duke OF Pumpernickel. Those woman
who, In these later days, have made
UaaH THAR Pi0hH - ka ,,nn R.,N L.. ~