The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-04-18
Is it Woman or Lady F?

he excessive use OF the WOrQ Ia
dy has become so common and SO
frequently applied to all conditions
of life, that it is strange SO very few
exceptions have been taken to it. It
is gratifying to notice that a writer
in the last Christian Union, paper
of high literary merit, has taken oc-
casion to show the absurdity of the
misuse of the word lady. The word
lady has been growing steadily in
use, first sparingly among those who
aspire to be of the higher classes,
but of late it has no limit in its ap-
plication; it is used in speaking of
those of the lowest rank as freely as
those in the upper circles. In Eng
land the word lady is used with far
less frequency than in this country.
The Queen is seldom mentioned as
a lady, but usually she is described
as woman. In the British pArlia
ment the title lords and ladies is not
uncommon, lady being the corelative
of lord. Writers say when the title
lady first came to be used in Eng
land, it was conceded by right to the
wives and daughters Of peers and
extended by courtesy to the wives of
baronets and viscounts. Women
were raised to the rank Of ladies in
virtue of the high position of their
husbands. In this country the word
lady has gained such a foothOld hat
photographers define it to be the O.
relative of gentleman, which la ,er IS
understood to mean a man raised
above the vulgar by birth, cox ttion
and social position. When ;nr eX-
preston "we ladies" is heard, it is
equivalent to saying we of "hlgh po-
sition and rank" There has always
been in this country in some classes
disposition to ape the arlstocracy
of Europe. but now since the name
lady has become so commonplace
and meaningless, would it not suffl-
GENTLY indicate responsibility and
good manners to use the word Wom-
an, and leave lady to the colored
servants and washers of the South,
who interchange salutations with it
so lavishly. Woman is the true
name; it is as respectable designa-
ton as can be given; it is a grand
name; it has come down to us from
the classic ages. The name woman
is now generally employed in the
title of State and National organiza-
tons of women, whether literary, re-
ligious, temperance, educational,
benevolent or other objects. Dis
tinguished literary writer's are now
not spoken of as ladies, but women.
1t cannot be reasonably expected the
name lady will fall into disuse; long
use will give it currency indefinitely
in the future. In many kinds of ex-
pressions the change from lady to
woman would sound inharmonious
but propriety will overcome the pref.
udice. The name lady is a modern
coinage, it's origin dates in England
it is nowhere found in Roman his
tory, nor in that of any other coun-
try of earlier times. It has in fact
no exact synonym in other writer
languages. 1t is not found in the
Bible, nor is there any word in the
sacred record fully answering to it
The revisers Of the new testament
scriptures in some instances changed
or supplied words to give a more
; correct reading, but in no case could
; they find place for lady; SO they
left that word without recognition ir
, the Bible. Some time ago two womer
; of questionable reputation met or
the street in Chicago; an exciting
conversation between them took
place, and the two recussants were