Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-07-25

IA paper read before the American Institute of In
| struction AT Montpelier, VT, July u, ISL
| What's in a name Not much. But in |
nickname often II great deal. The infant
christening isn't ones own fault or favor, |
but the soubriquet of boyhood or the honor |
able designation of ripening manhood, gen |
orally means something. AT least, in this |
| country, If a man has title, he is supposed |
| to have earned it. No one here is born mar
quis or lord, viscount or esquire, but MANY
may aspire to appellations more creditable if
not more dignified. We make now no argu-
ment or plea, either for or against the en-
ployment of titles. They are used, and will
be used, in spite of what scores of Us may
say or write contrariwise; they are often
convenient from their very brevity we sim
ply ask that they be used, that we teachers
teach those under Our instruction to use them
reverently and truthfully and in thorough
LOYALTY TO the spirit of our American institu-
tons, and to the English tongue
Some Americans who have been abroad. -
and great many who have not,-appear
enamored of foreign designations. The silly
Frenchy fashion of spelling Christian names
with the termination ie instead of q is in
point. Nellie, Katie, Willie, Allie are hard
ly better English than the Chinamans
mucAee, touclee. We are glad TO note that
school boards and college officers are insist
ing on the use of idiomatic English forms of
names for their catalogues and registers. The
tendency to multiply titles is still more obi
GUS This really savors not so much of for
eign usage as of barbaric ignorance and vain
assumption. For the Queen of England is
still content with the simple prefix Queen or
Your Majesty, Frederic William of Prussia
is addressed as Sire; while Charles thessFifth
is said TO have filled the first page of his let
tiers with list of his titles I'VE cease to wonder
fbnth a To. "a.
Of Ava styleslhimself the king of kings whom
all others should obey, the cause Of the pre-
servation of all animals, the regulator of the '
seasons the absolute master OF the ebb and {
flow at the sea, brother to the sun, and king
of the four and twenty umbrellas, the last d
title having reference to the umbrella carried /
before him ~ a mark of his dignity 1t is, n
to bo sure, little less ludcrous, yet not ii
more in good taste, that graduate of col G.
lege who, perhaps, has afterwards eontinu-
ed his studies at an English university. and 4
German professional school, should invaria-
bly, append to his name the degree conferred Is
by each One pretixed and one suftixed title ;,
are enough for any ordinary mortal The IL
Use of more than these is suggestive of the r.
Scotchwoman's characterization Of the gaily II,
dressed circus clown, "A guide mony tags for IL
little to hang EN- to- NJ
But chiefly let us use titles, whether Of
courtesy, or Of official station, truthfuly,-
,pplying them only TO whom they belong. \
lie is 10 be loathcd whether II lie carved in
marble, printed on piper, oT uttered IN oral
discourse, whether ii be II false statement.
1 false badge, or u gildcd epithct. No his
0Fic association is sufficient reason for the
perpetuatioH of msnomer, no mistaken
courtesy should allow lis usF. The title most
lbused among us is that Of prDtessur. Mhlle
properly designating only the infumbents III
permanent chairs III colleges or professional
chouls it is. in fact, applied To principals
md other teachers, in al sorts of secondary
chools academies, high schools, union
chaols graded schools private Schools (
nd is. asshmea b; travelling elocutionists,
crobats and BARRIERS This iIdiarFimlate
rather, wholesale stealing
of the term depriyes it of all honor and
gnity. except when it is further explained |
y designation OF place work and the
pTm. when 20 employed in the sessions of an
ssOciation like this, becomes . s',rl u libtl.
18th OF individuals aud vi tn, institute rs a Il
Ody OF intelligent educators. -
In the use of courtesy titles, while there is lis
lack of uniformity. with the general ten L..
ency 10 hrsiDg them where they are no
lore deserved than 10 lhe appell4tian OF ~
ing of the Cannihal l,lands, yet, by law
nd custom few things are settled. In the -
thtf OF Massachusetts AMI some others the
9FeTHor is entitled by law 10 lie addressed
) His ESceliencg and the luutpnant gov
NOR ~ His Honor The President Of
le IRilel States is addressed simply as
resident. Judges. members Of Congress,
nd ministers abroad, the mrmbcrs Of tic
enates Of the State Legislatures, and the
,eaker OF the lower branch are styled
but this designation does
1t bel ing TO the lower branch of our State
gislstlFes, nQr 10 the numberless other petty 4,
nclals II whQm i Is irsqAeAH ltpted III
he title ;'esquiFe' is given properly 70 law II,
'rs, justices uf lhf peace, and hol4rles
lblic, though common usage has much eN
nded its employment MIR. is creditable
ANYBODY in Republic, and is sufficient .
Z any body. and may he pretfNcd to the
liciai designation, as. 'Mr Justice Par
ms. in case the Christian name is not cN-
essed IL
We like the German custom of giving to a,
I'bubbc olnciais AID indeeJ IL llan, uih,ls,
e title Indicating their Office or employ II
ent They not unfrequently say, To put
in English "Mr Tax -gatherer" or even dl
Mrs Tax gstheress" If we may not carry
E practice 10 this extreme, or ii We may -
t reform oil the bombastc batteries which