The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-27

Under the caption "A Survival Of Non
sense" the New York World attempts to
ridicule the customary courtesy OF bust
ness and social letter writing. why do
we write Esq after a mans name or
'Mr' before It in addressing letter."
the World asks. why do we write Dear
STR even in addressing the veriest stran-
ger? Why do we subscribe ourselves to
all correspondents as Yours truly or
other words to that meaningless effect?
We do none of these things in kilograms,
yet we do not feel that we are discount
eous to John Jones when we address him
by telegraph solely as John Jones and
sign our names st the end of the dispatch
without any flourish Of words. Why
should we not be as direct, simple and
truthful in our letters as in our tele-
grams?"
1t would appear that the World cannot
see beyond the point OF utility. What is
the use Of beauty, propriety, harmony,
purity in diction? Why should we write
in figures of speech, when we can make
our meaning clear with plain and blunt
statement of fact? Why should gentle
men with gentlemen, or gentlemen with
ladies, be courteous and polite? Why
should we adorn the walls Of the rooms
about us with works of art, or anything
to please the eye when works of art may
be beyond our reach? Why not dispense
with all ceremonies of church and state
as meaningless trifes that consume the
valuable time of the people and their ser
wants? In these things it may be said
there is no practical utility, and yet they
are the expressions of characteristics
deep rooted in humanity.
And so with all common courtesies of
daily life. The child's first lesson is re-
spect for its elders. With the man it be-
comes a law, a custom, an instinct, to re-
spect his fellowman. The Mr." the
Dear Sir" the Yours truly" which the
World calls survivals from an age of leis-
ure, Extravaganza and servility of mind,
which waste 1888 years Of our time every
year, are forms of the little courtesies of
address, which mark the gentlemanly in
stinct. People live less in straight lines
the further they progress in civilization.
These are Instances of the little rounded
nlCeLl6S WHICH mari lildI GN6l -AAANl
distinction between the mind itself and
mere animal existence. Custom has dis
pensed with them in kilograms, to be sure;
but at pennyrate per word, that is a diff
ferent matter Common consent, perhaps,
has determined people not to make cour-
tesy a source of revenue to an already
rich monopoly; yet it may be asserted that,
even by telegraph, it is customary to adj
dress a lady as she should be addressed,
be she miss" or Mrs"
But the World goes further, and asks
why should we address William l.. Will
son as Hon" or T. Dewitt Talmage as
Rev" Why not, we ask, do away with
names altogether and designate people by
abbreviated signs or numbers as did the
Phenix park conspirators? Such men
as those named have won positions Of
distinction, which they hold before the
world But were they less distinguished
! there would be due them a courteous de-
ference. We agree with the World that
there are too many gratuitous titles,
straw majors and ward politician honora-
bles; but that has nothing to do with the
principle that respectful difference is due
from man to man, and that refinement is
not to be sacrificed to commerce.