Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-04-05
Styles of Address.

PUBLIC MEN SHOULD BE AD-
DRESSED.
Washington Cor. New York Post
have been considerably amused
IN glancing over the addresses on
letters to public men, to notice the
different styles which are used by
people living at distance. For in
stance, some communications are
addressed to the Hon. Chester A.
Arthur, President of the United
States" The simplest and best form
is to write, ITO the President, Ex-
ecutive Mansion, Washington, ID.
D." In addressing the President
personally you should always say
Mr.. President" "Your Honor"
or "Your Excellency" is never used,
and is considered in bad taste, yet it
is no uncommon thing to hear public
men from different parts of the
country open conversation with the
President in these terms. The Of
fetal title of the Governor of Mas
sachusetts is "His Excellency," and
Of the Lieutenant Governor Ellis
HONOR but the President has no
official title, and is called simply
"Mr. President" In addressing
communications to the Cabinet off
you should, however, write, "The
Hon. Charles j. Folger, Secretary of
the Treasury; the Hon. William f.
Chandler, Secretary of tue Navy
ETC.. but in personal intercourse you
should always say ''Mr. Secretary"
'Mr. Attorney General" or Mr..
Postmaster General" Should you
desire to
WRITE TO A SENATOR,
you would direct to "Hon. George
+. Hoar, NJ c.. Senate Chamber,
Washington, ID, c., and if "a formal
communication commence the epis
tie "Mr. Senator" which title you
should also use in private converse
tion with him. OF course, if you
were an intimate friend, you could
take greater liberties, and perhaps
call him Dear George" or some
thing of that sort; but | am talking
now only upon formal communica-
tions. A member of the House is
not so particular, however. You
would address him after this style:
'The Hon. John ID. Long, M. e.,
House of Representative, Washing
ton, ID. c." In speaking to mem
Der you would ordinarily address him
by his last name, but if he had ever
been a Speaker. Senator or Governor
invariably give him that title, for it
is not only customary, but it gives
him the impression that you have
made particular study of his rec
ord. Many a man has wrecked his
chances by calling an ex Senator
simply Mr. Blank" You must
have some knowledge of the war in
order to steer skillfully around
among these statesmen. fla mem
Der has been "A General, cali him that
and you can safely
GO DOWN AS FAR AS MAJOR,
but l would advise you to draw the
line in the last named title, for
man who has served during the war
and risen no higher than a captain
does not care to have it thrown in
his face after he has been elected to
Congress. do not know how the
custom was originated to limit the
title to the grade of major, but | do
know it to be the fact nevertheless.
In addressing the Speaker of the
House, you should always say, "Mr.
Speaker" aud never Mr.. Carlisle,
and the Justices of the United States
Supreme Court, the Court of Claims
and other judicial bodies OF final re-
sort, as Mr.. Chief Justice" and
"Mr. Justice" This is a republican
form of Government, where every
man is supposed to be as good as
every other man, and little better
if he can make himself so, but these
titles which have mentioned are as
immovable as the long line in the
court of "Victoria r."