The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-06-21
WHERE TITLES ABOUND
In Washington They Are IS Plentiful as
Colonelcics In The South.
SOME PECULIAR CHARACTERISTICS.
No Ceuntry en- Earth where Sc
MANY Men have Handles 60 Their
Na@es-A Title Wanted fer she
Notary Pebble.

Washington letter to Chicago Record.
An English peer who 10 making his
first visit to the United States was asked
at the Country club, the other day, what
peculiar characteristic Of the American
people impressed him most forcibly.
Without the slightest hesitation he re-
piled: Their love Of titles"
II always fsncied," he said, that you
were all democrats and republicans, and
had contempt for titles and that sort
Of thing, but I'll be blessed II I've seen .
dozen men in Washington without ham
dies Of some kind to their names. The
whole population seems to consist Of
generals and colonies aad senators and
judges and governors; but fancy I'll
find the plain people when get out into
the provinces south and west"
"On the contrary" was the reply,
"you will find the colonies and judges
and generals getting thicker and thicker
the further you go"
Emery Storrs, when he first came to
Washington, said to Gen. Grant ~ have
found here men called general who never
unsheathed sword or wore q uniform !;
I have found men who never opened q
law book called Judge; men who have
been defeated for the United States senate
called senator; men called governor who
have sspired to the governorship Of
their states, but never got even so far az
q nomination, and now I'd like to know
what sort Of title 10 given to genuine,
straight-out, bona fide notary public"
All this satire 10 just. There is no
country on earth where 90 many men
have handles to their names, as my lord
remarked, although titles are supposed,
theoretically, to be "repugnant to repub-
lican institutions" Many Of them no
doubt are applied and stick without the
sanction and to the discomfort Of those
who wear them, but a great many are
assumed as giving additional dignity and
influence.
The assistant commissioner Of Indian
affairs under the Cleveland administra-
ton six years ago always insisted upon
being called General" and informed
those who neglected 10 give him the
title that he had once been member OF
the military staff Of the governor OF Ten
nessee and had right to 1t. Lloyd Bryce,
the editor Of the North american Reriew,
used to register himself as General"
when he stopped at hotel, as he had
been paymaster-genera on the staff Of
Mr.. Cleveland when the latter vas gov
ernor Of New York. A gentleman who
served for q few months under q pre-
gious administration as assistant post
master-general has ever since been known
as General" and always refers to him
self by that title. 1t would be easy to
fill several columns with a recital OF sim
liar little vanities and weaknesses on the
part Of all we know.
The fact that we have no lawful titles
In this country permits any person who
chooses to wear one without the fear OF
exposure. bu. IL he were to take that
liberty in England or Germany he would
at least be expelled from his club. And
the same absence Of laws or regulations
on this subject creates confusion and en-
barrassment among conscientious for.
eigners who visit this country for the
first time and are anxious to make no
mistakes.