Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-04-11
TITLES OF eneLlsH WOMEN.


pHcated to an American.
1t is little wonder that foreigners ban.
gle over our titles as they do, when in
our own public speeches and newspa-
pers it Is often made plain that many do
hot understand how to use English titles.
For instance, a marquis daughter ,yho
married man withouta title keeps tie
title of slady'' and her own Christian
name and adds to these the husbands
surname 4s Gs3N sA ~
Thus, when Lady Evelyn Fitzmaurice,
the daughter Of the Marquis Of Lands
downe, married Mr.. Victor Cayendish
she became Lady Evelyn Cavendish;
but the London dailies spoke Of Lady
Victor Cavendish's going away dress"
The only case in which lady of title
Is called by her husbands Christian
name as we'll as his surname is in the
case OF the wives Of the younger sons of
dukes and marquises. si ~
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."
10 call the wives of younger sons
Lady Hamilton, Lady Beresford, or
whatever is the surname, without the
male Christian name, is as incorrect as
70 call Lady Evelyn Cavendish by her
husbands full name.
On the other hand, the wife of bar
onet or Of knight is lady" with his
surname alone after it. ~
Confusion grows in many minds from
the fact that any peerless 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, 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 il
spoken Of as ''the 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.
Moreover, every other lady of title,
from knights wife (Which is not a
real title), right away up to a march
ioness, is equally "my lady" to her so
cial interiors. cH yfe5F
Sir John Smiths wife is Lady Smith
The wife of Lord John Smith, who is {
peers younger son, is Lady John Smith
and if you know her on terms of equal
ity you may call her Lady John, bu
never Lady Smith. Lady Mary, daugh
ter Of either the earl or the marquis. Oh
the duke of somewhere, and the wife o
Mr.. John Smith, is Lady Mary Smith
call her Lady Mary if she seems friend
iy, but not Lady Smith or Lady JOIN
Smith.
The wife of Lord Smith, or the ear
or the marquis of Smithville, you ma,
call Lady Smith or Lady Smithville, al
the case may be, but if SnIithville is
duke on no account call his wife Lad,
Smithville. ...
If you think that she will not snul
you as too familiar you may call he
simply duchess" You may say, Ouch
ess, may l get you some tea!' for ex
ample. Bnt till you know her well, o
feel on quite friendly terms, it had bet
ter be, "Will your grace take a cup o
tear
Finally, the oldest thing of all, if fat
should make you acquainted with
prince or princess of the blood royal
you will seem very second rate if yo'
keep saying, your royal highness.
You must say ''sir' and ''ma'am.
Not, if You please, madam" bu
ina am," as your housemaid says t
your own meek better half, Mrs. Smith
Even a duchess calls q princes
, s'ma am. London Letter.