The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-07-14
OFFICIAL ETIQUETTE.
Proper Way to Address the Country's
OiQnitarieS.

Proper Way to Address the Country's
Disnitaries.
The United States is the only ma
tion on earth without a fixed official
etiquette. At every other capital
from Pekin to Buenos Ayres there is
an official Of the government whose
duty il is to see that social forms and
precedents are adhered TO and TO give
information to strangers on the sub
ject when they apply for it. There is
no such person in Washington. Peo-
pie who want information OF this
kind 60 30 Mr.. +. /. Renick, the
brilliant young Georgian, the chief
clerk OF the State department, or to
the superintendent Of pnblic build
.ings and grounds, who acts i'm the
place OF master OF ceremonies at
the White House. The dean OF the
diplomatic corps is appealed TO by
new ministers when they come here,
and he tells them what they are ex-
pected to do.
This fact creates no little confusion
and is frequently the cause Of much
annoyance to well meaning people
whose desire always is TO do the
correct thing" The only precedent
is custom, and usage, of course, is
law in official affairs as it is in society,
and what men have done men must
do or be criticised for ignorance or
indifference to custom.
If you desire To write to the presi-
dent OF the United States, your let
ters should be directed simply ITO
the President, Washington, ID. c."
In conversation he should be ad-
dressed AS Mr.. President. He should
never be called or written to as His
Excellcncy." A similar rule applies
to the ce-president.
Members of the cabinet should be
addressed in conversation as Mr..
Secretary, "Mr. Attorney-General,
or "Mr. Postmaster-General." In
writing to IL member OF the cabinet,
the letter should be addressed to
''The Honorable, the Secretary Of
State. Washington, ID. Co." or The
Honorable, the Attorney-General,
Washington, ID. c." 1t is the custom
to also call the assistant secretaries
in the various executive departments
"Mr. Secretary" the same as their
chief.
.sTo the Honorable, the Chief
Justice OF the United States, Wash
ington, ID. c., is the correct way to
address that officer in writing; and in
conversation, "Mr. Chief Justice"
IL you care to write to Judge Crisp,
you should address his letter to
THE Speaker OF the House OF Rep
resentatives, but IL you are talk
ing to him, you should say, Mr..
Speaker.
There is great deal Of freedom
used in communication with men,
bers OF the congress, which is limited
by the taste OF the person involved
or the familiarities of close acquaint-
ance. The proper way to accost
member OF the Senate is Mr..
Senator" and in writing him the
letter should be addressed to The
Honorable Patrick Walsh, United
States Senate, Washington, ID. c."
IL YOU nhoW hiii pIctty Wtii, YOU Suh
address the letter as MY Dear SEN
ator," but it is better to be formal
and say Sir"
Members Of the House of Represen-
tatives are addressed thus The
Honorable Henry q. Turner, House
Of Representatives, Washington. ID.
O.; but ordinarily in conversation,
they should be called by their actual
names, as "Mr. Cabaniss," or Mr..
Maddox" although nine out OF ten
Of them have titles and are usually
called Governor" or General, or
Judge"
The commonest and most frequent
mistake made is to refer to the wife
OF a member OF the cabinet as Mrs.
Secretary Lamont or TO the wife Of
member of the senate as Mrs.
Senator Washburn. That is excess
sively vulgar, as Mrs Lamont is not
a secretary nor is Mrs. Washburn a
Sanatnv Il Atlanta Ipnrpol