The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-12
ENGLISH LADIES, TITLES.
You Say "Your Grace" to Duchess, blu
"ThnnIs,ee, NIa'nm" to PrIneeas.


You Say "YOur Grace" to n Duchess, but
"Thnnk'se, SIa'nm" to Princess.
II is little wonder that foreigners
bungle over our titles as they do, says
an English paper, when in our own
public speeches and newspapers IS so
often made plain that many do not
understand how to use English titles.
Forinstance, marquis daughter who
married man without title keeps the
title OF LADY" and her own Christian
name, and adds TO these the husbands
surname.
Thus, when Lady Evelyn Fitzmaurice.
the daughter OF the Marquis OF Lands
downe, married Mr.. Victor Cavendish
last July she became Lady Evelyn
Cavendish; but the London dailies
spoke OF "Lady Victor Cavendish's
goingaway Dress"
The only case in which lady OF title
is called by her husbands christian
name as well as his surname is in the
case OF the wives of the younger sons Of
dukes and marquises. These men bear
courtesy titles OF "Lord" before their
christian names and surnames, as Lord
George Hamilton, Lord Charles Beres-
ford. and SO on, and the only correct
way Of addressing or speaking Of their
wives is the same way. putting Lady"
in the place of 'Lord. p"
To call the wives OF younger sons
"Lady Hamilton" Gladly Beresford," "
or whatever is the surname, without
the male christian name, is as incorrect
as to call LADY Evelyn Cayendish" by
her husbands full name.
On the other hand, the wife OF baro-
net or OF q knight is LADY" with his
surname alone after it.
Confusion grows in many minds from
the fact that any peeress under the
rank OF duchess) is also spoken Of,
and to, by her equals as merely Lady"
So-and-So-the name added, however,
not being the family name, but the title
OF the husband.
Thus no equal would say, 81 saw the
MarChioness Of Salisbury" or "There is
the Countess OF Lathom"-it would be
"Lady Salisbury" and "Lady Lathom."
A duchess, the highest rank in the
peerage, is the only peeress who escapes
this equality of title in the everyday
language of ner equals in society. She
is never called "Lady" only, but is
spoken of as "the Duchess Of So-and-
So" in full always, and is addressed in
conversation by her friends as Ouch
ess," the name Of the peerage not add
ed.
Moreover, every other lady OF title,
from knights wife (Which is not a real
titie1 right away up to marchioness, is
equally "My Lady" to her social infe-
riors.
Sir John Smiths wife is Lady Smith.
The wife OF Lord John Smith, who is
peers younger son, is Lady John Smith,
and il you know her on terms OF equali-
ty you may call her Lady Smith. Lady
Mary daughter OF either the earl, OF
the marquis or the duke Of somewhere,
and the wife OF Mr. John Smith, is Lady
Mary Smith; call her Lady Mary if she
seems friendly, but not Lady Smith, or
Lady John Smith.
The wife of Lord Smith, or the earl
or the marquis Of Smithville, you may
call Lady Smith or Lady Smithville, as
the case may be, but if Smithville is
duke on no account call his wife LADY
Smithville."
II you think that sne VIII not snup
you as too familiar, you may call her
simply Duchess" You may say,
duchess, may get you some tea" for
example. But till you know her well,
or feel on quite friendly terms, it had
better be, "Will Your Grace take cup
Of tea2"
Finally the oldest thing of all, if late
should make you acquainted with a
prince or princess of the blood royal,
you will seem very second rate if you
keep saying "Your Royal Highness."
You must say "sir" and "Ma'am."
Not if you please, "Madam," but
"Ma'am," as your housemaid says to
your own meek better hall, Mrs. Smith.
Even duchess calls princess
Madam" 5LAs-'