The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-15
A GERM OF DISEASE
Western Journalism Criticised
!. by Rev. e. A. WATSON.
The SOCIETY COLUMNS
me outlandish Word Mesdames Comes
: In for CastieatinR Criticism-west-
, ern Newspaper Work
!. Strong and Original.

Great Falls. Aug. H-Rev. E. A Was
son. who edits the Great Falls Church.
man. has something to say about the $50
ciety columns which appear In Western
papers, and his remarks are pungent and
sometimes approach the scathing. The ar
ticle reads:
The Journalism OF the West is strong
and original. It scorns what It considers
the weak co~nventionalities of the erete
East. II says what it means and means
what II says. What II may lack in polish
II makes up In force.
We are prompted to these sage rerec-
ions by a mournful Indication of decad-
ence IN these great features of our Jour
naIism-a germ of disease i'm its heart. a
canker in the bud. etc. In one respect we
are effeter than the East itself. and show
Tess originality than the very copyists
When we wish to pluralise woman's title
We dont DO II in some proud way of our
own, nor do we even make a concession
TO the Eastern standards: but we go clear
across the ocean and submit to instruction
IN this vital mater at the hands of mere
Frenchmen. Now IL may be too late 70
prescribe French bonnets: but II seems
that we might get along without the
french language In this land OF the free
and the home Of the brave. Brethren of
R'NSS hA6hAg tSlttUutu COnlemDOrHF-
les, why do you fasten on lovely woman
taken plurally. such an outlandish title as
mesoames? They are not French. these
women whose cause we plead. and who
beal this verbal reproach with silent dig
nifty. No! They are true-born Americans
the peeresses of their sex the world over.
And must we have Frenchmen teach us
what to call our women? 1t must not be.
Can't we be polite without having for
eigners tell US how7 OF course we can.
Mesdanies Is not, and must not be, the
plural for Mrs. 1t is not; for the singular
OF mesdames is madame: and. unless we
are prepared to refer to Madame A. we
nave no right to refer to Mesdames A
and B. Observe that mesdames is not
even the plural of madam. which may be
considered English, and which. In use. is
quite a different word. But, II We must
write mesdames mo one ever saws it) let
US be consistent and write messIeurs.
will not do. We wish the correct
thing. And how imposing it would all
look:
AT the elegant function given last
Wednesday by the beautiful and charm
ing society leader, Madame Powder, who
was clad in tulle, wit variations. cut on
the bias. the following distinguished per-
sohages honored themselves and their
by their gracious presence, to-
wit: Messieurs A, b, c. ID. e, r, G.: and
Mesdames III, i. j, X, L, NJ, N, o. We
have not yet spoken of the graceful and
and accomplished debutantes, Miles. x
n. exquisitely h~and-painted and
forth rich odors OF musk and
new mown hay, as they moved. How
,ouid we2 We don't know what to saw or
hem. The observed of all Observers
cynosures,' etc. are all worn out. We
ire In despair. But you can take our word
'or II, these debutantes were all right.
were a prime article. There was
sothing the matter with them. And YOU
ant go far wrong, no matter which one
II them you take. Not that we wish to
any reflections on the other bellies
resent Far from 1t. Don't you see that
We are doing our level best TO puff every
'ody7 We came near forgetting to mem
ion that the hostess was ably fanked by
he stately Madame Puddlefoot. nee
lack. and the equally stately Qn fact.
hey were both among the stateliest ladies
nat we have met since leaving home)
fadame Snodgrass. nee Marie Amarintha
Bug. There is no doubt but what this
ffair was very recherche. not to say chic.
hope I may die II there was anything
wv or vulgar about It," I
But am i asked what we shall say II
OF mesdames7 We cannot, as English /,
with their maid servants. re- n
r. to these lovely creatures by their last n
ames. How YOU II sound TO say that q
owder was ably assisted by Puddlefoot n
nd Snodgrass? But we can do as we ali ii
o In speaking. "who all were there - n
70 one In his senses would reply: Mes o
ames So-and-So." We say, Mrs N
thompson. Mrs. Jones. Mrs. warburton." n
nd what is good enough to say Is good ot
1ough to write. Nor would it cost a N
me per column to repeat the prefix. Un- N
$ We can find some better way. let US n
in this respect. as the rest of the .,
does. -