The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-12-02
THURSDAY. DEC. =. 1886.
TITLES, THEIR USE AND ABUSE.

In all countries where monar-
chical form of government prevails,
are always to he found numbers of
titled persons. That is, men who,
either from patrician birth derive
hereditary titles, or men who have
distinguished themselves by doing
some signal service for their coun-
try, either in war, science, geogra-
phical research, saving life, inven-
ton. or Introducing something that
supersedcs anything else, thus add
ing to the progress of commerce or
the knowledge of mankind, and are
rewarded for their services by q
State title.
Great Britain. monarchy Oh a
large scale, has both these classes
of titles in profusion, the hereditary
article and the one conferred during
the life time of its possessor.
The Hawaiian Islands, monarchy
on a small scale, its population
scarcely equaling that of an ordi-
nary market town in Great Britain,
has it's titles, too. Here none of
them are hereditary, except those
of the Royal family. The others
are all creations of the time. But
our creative powers make up for the
deficiency in the line of hereditary
titles. They are even equal to the
task of making Royal Princes. So
that there is really no lack of titled
persons in the country. In fact, it
is said that the Hawaiian Kingdom
contains more men bearing titles, in
proportion to the number of its in
habitants, than any other country
on the face of the globe. Our
mobiles, who are simply legislative
dignitaries, are limited by law to
twenty, or there is no telling how
long the list might have become ere
this.
The kingdom is prolific in orders
and decorations but these do not
seem to carry with them any dis
tinctive title. How many there are
altogether the writer cannot tell
and how many persons have been
initiated into membership and
honored by the badge it would be
hard for anyone not in the charmed
circle to ascertain. As just init.
mated, the decorations do not seen
to distinguish their wearers as
Lord, Lady, or Sir, So and So; bu
if you go to a fashionable evening
gathering you may gather an ide;
OF the wonderful abundance of thes,
glittering ornaments. A breast or
neck without one is quite singular
Our titles run mainly in the lin
of military rank. The Generals
Colonels, Majors and Captain
make a prodigious company. Whe
introduced by friend to Colone
A, Major b, or Captain Cook, yo
are naturally expected at your mex
meeting to give him his full title, a
on the occasion OF introduction
Call him Colonel, and it IS all right
even if you cannot call to mind hi
surname at the time. Our Majors
for the most part, are OF modest
reticent nature, being apparentl,
afraid of being asked to what regi
ment they belong, and when the.
had their last engagement. Cap
tains are the most numerous, an,
are as plentiful as mosquitoes. On
hears them addressed as Captain
anu hOp W oloN Iath VI lSol)CSt
falls into line, and says Captain
too. Bnl with the stranger diff
Guilty sometimes arises as to whethe
Captain So and SO is military o
sea-faring gentleman. Although
practiced eye can generally tell tina
the Captain has never had mill
tary training, whilst his own tongu
reveals the fact that lie is not
sailor.
But the titles which are the mos
troublesome are those given TO Gov
ernment officials through the news
papers, the DAILY BULLETIN in
cluded along with the others. Dur
ing the past two or three weeks
grand opportunity has been affordet
of learning Who's Who. The King
we all know and honor as our ruler
nut xpI,,, a l.yax,o rafar IN hin, N HI