Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-12-15
TITLES OF ENGLISH WOMEN.
distinctions That May Seem Rather Cor
nlfcated TO an American.

distinctions That May Seem Rather Com
pIcated to an American.
It's little wonder that foreigners bun-
gle over our titles as they do, when IN
our own public speeches and newspar
pers it's often made plain that many 90
not understand how to use English titles.
For instance, q marquis daughter who,
married q man withouta a title keeps the
title of sladyn and her own Christian
name and adds to these the husbands
surname.
Thus, when Lady EyelynF Fitzmaurice,
the daughter of the Marquis Of Lands
.downe, married Mr.. Victor Cayendish
she became Lady Evelyn Cavendlsh;
but the London dailies spoke OF "Lady
Victor Cavendish's going away dress.
The only case in which a lady OF title
is called by her husbands Christian
name as well as his surname IS IN tne
case of the wiSA of the younger sons OF
dukes and marquises.
These men bear courtesy titles OF
"1ordo before their Christian names
and surnames, as Lord George Hamil-,
ton. Lord Charles Beresford, and so on,
and the only correct way of addressing
or speaking Of their wives is the same 3
way, putting sslady" In the place OF
alord. * -
To call the wives Of younger sons
Lady Hamilton, Lady Beresford' OF
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 o bar
onet or of knight is "lady," with bus
surname alone after it.
y Confusion grows in many minds from
the fact that any peeress funder the
rank of a 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. y
Thus no equal would say, II 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 her equals in society. She
is never called "lady" only, but is
spoken of as othe Duchess of So-and-so"
in full always; and is addressed In con.
versation by her friends as duchess"
the name of the peerage not added. s
Moreover, every other lady OF title,
from knights. wife (which~issnot 8
real title). right away up to a march
ioness, is equally .my lady" to her 30
cial interiors.
(, Sir John Smiths wife is Lady Smith.
The wife of Lord John Smith, who Is o
peers younger son, is Lady John Smith,
andiif you know her on terms of equal
ity you may call her Lady, John, but
never Lady Smith. Lady Mary, daush-
ter Of either the earl or 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 friend
ly, but not Lady Smith or Lady John
Smith.
Tho --:fe of Lord Smith, or the earl
or the marquis of Smithyille, you may
call Lady Smith or Lady Smithyile, as
the case may be, but if Smithville is
dnke on no account call his wife Lady
Srlithville.
If You think that she will not snub
you as too familiar, you may call her
simply "duchess." You maysay, Ouch,
ess, may get you some tear for e4-
ample. But till you know her well, or
feel On quite friendly terms, it had bet
ter be, evil your grace take cup of
tea2
Finally. the oldest thing Of all, if fate
should make you acquainted with
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.S ,
Not, if you please, madam" but
sma'am," as your housemaid Gays to
your own meek better half, Mrs. Smith.
Even duchess calls q princess
"ma'am."-London Letter.