The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-03-03
TITLES OF ENGLISH WOMEN.


Distinctions That May Seem Rather Com.
plicatcd to AN American.
1t is little wonder that foreigners bun.
gle over our titles as they do, when in
Il own public speeches and newspa-
pers it is often made plain that many do
not understood how to use English titles.
Fol instan 'e, a marquis daughter who
married a man without u 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
she became Lady Evelyn Cavendish;
but the London dailies spoke of Lady
Victor Cavendish's going away dress"
The only case in which Il 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 Hamil-
ton, Lord Charles Beresford, 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.'
To call the wives Of younger SONS
Lady Hamilton, Lady Bcresford. or
whatever is the surname, without the
male Christian name, is as Incorrect AS
to call Lady Evelyn Cavendish by her
husbands full anne
On the other hand. the wife of q bar
onet or Of a knight is lady" with his
surname alone after it.
Confusion grows in many minds from
the Fact that any pecress (nnder the
rank Of Il duchess) is also spoken of, and
to, by her equals us 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, Il saw the
M%archioness of Salisbury or There is
the Countess OF Lathom.' it would he
Lady Salisbury and Lady Lathom.
a duchess. the highest rank in The
reerage, is the only peerless WHO escapes
this equality of tide III the everyday
language OF her equals in suciely. She
is never called Gladly" only. but j.
spoken of rs ''thc Duchess nj ~So-ani-s,'
in full always. and is a,!lrrS ed in con
versation hy her friends aa ''ducilc-S.'
the raNlo Of the rcera@" not added.
Moreover. every other la'jy Of IT'LL.
from Il knights wife (Which is mon Il
real title, right away Up to IL marrii-
%ioness, ii equally my lady 10 her So
cial interiors.
Sir John Smith, wife is Lady Smith.
The wife Of Lord john Smith. who is Il
peers Younger son. is lady John Smith,
and if you know her Oh terms Of equal
ity YOU may call her Lady john, but
never Lady Smith. Lady Mary. daugh-
ter Of either the earl or the marquis. OF
the duke Of somewhere, ? ID the wife Of
Mr.. John Smith, is Lady Mary Smith;
call her Lady Mary If She seems friend
~, bat not Lady Smith or Lady John
The wife Of Lord Smith. or the earl
or the marquis of SmithyilIc. you may
call Lady Smith or Lady S~milnyillc. Us
the case may be. but If Smithyille is Il
duke ON III account call his wife Lady
Smithville.
II you think that she will not snub
You as too familiar, you may call her
simply 'duchess." You ma say, Ouch.
ess, may | get you some tca:' for ex-
ample. But till you know her well. or
feel on quite friendly terms, it had bet
ter he, ''Will your grace take IL cup of
tea
Finally, the oldest thing of all. if fate
should make you acquainted with ii
prince or princess Of the blood royal,
yon will seem very second rate if yo1
keep saying, your royal highnesS.'
You must say sir and ''ma'am."
Not, If you i&ease, 'madam," but
as your housemaid says to
your w meek better half, Mrs. Smith.
Il duchess calls Il princess |
'sma'om II oplan Tnrt.,