Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-13
Spurious Titles.

A correspondent in Southern Georgia
thus writes:
your excellent papers on Timely
Topics prompts me to suggest an arti-
Gle on Spurious Titles"
A society has been organized in Vir-
ginia for the suppression OF spurious titles
and think it could find plenty of lively
work in the Empire State OF the South.
A pernicious custom has obtained for a
long time of prefixing the title Of Col
onel' to every attorney at law in the
state. The Georgia Major is as you
know historical, but I always thought it
strange that a military title should be
conferred upon the limbs of the law. Why
not Major" instead of colonel? Why IS
Colonel generally appropriated?
Better still as nearly all lawyers aspire
to the judicial ermine at some time-why
not prefix the title of Judge" instead OF
either Colonel or ''Major"?
1 felt that it would be very interesting
to hear your views on this subject-there-
fore have made bold to present the sug-
gestion."
Thank you kind sir. for giving me an
opportunity on this occasion!
But you have furnished the text and
the sermon-so I can only exhort a little
for you at the close.
In former times almost as many ex-
horters could be listened to- as preachers;
did not warm up to a discourse after the
preacher took his seat. 1t was not al
ways, however, the best part of the dis
course. II was generally the dessert af-
ter the solid dishes had been duly honored.
Just so. in the present case. This text
and sermon are intensely applicable to
present conditions. Maybe can only ex-
hort in few words.
Some years ago we had a neighbor who
sol of a. nd a n a nd
purchaser was introduced around as Col
onel Blank. One day at a friendly dining,
somebody asked. Were you in the Mex
lean war, ColOnel?'
ct was before the civil war promotions }
mo. sir. 1 was plain Mr.. Blank until 1
moved up TO this part Of the country
Your people begun calling me colonel.
was never in war a day of my life-nor
have served In the state militia. I guess
1 acquired the title when I bought Mr..
SIS land. Maybe bought the title with
the land. Do you do such things in this
country?'
This lavish use of the title has. as my
correspondent states, become excessive;
whether 1t is become disgusting or other
wise. This lavish use has discounted it
cheapened it-and when soberly consider
ed. ridiculed IL. II is ludicrous to think
about IN cold earnest.
II had earned the real title in military
service, I should feel like taking some
steps to verify my claim to IL.
Somebody has said that the war veter-
ans are kicking along this line, because
the real colonies at reunion seasons are
not only harrassed by spurious claims to
the title. but find themselves occasionally
, completely overshadowed by the preten-
sions Of the S. It's otherwise Spurious
| Titles) in cities where these reunions are
assembled. The S. It's ride their hobby
so hard that the real owners are left in
the rear, and completely out of sight.
II Virginia can afford to begin a weed
ing out or reform. Georgia has no reason
| TO be more modest or Indifferent in this
military title business.
Plain mister is a most honorable title
and in lofty officialism. the title OF mister
/ is exploited whenever the owner rises to
speak or to be Questioned-in legislative
bodies or organizations.
1t is eminently proper to say Mister
| President or Mister Chairman, and our
women's organizations say, Madame Pres
ident or Madame Chairman-for like rea-
sons.
But I take a little satisfaction that
women as a rule are satisfied to have Mrs.
/ prefixed TO their address, and no matter
/ how often the head of the mousse is col
/ oneled by mistake the wife has been con-
| tent to be known and written to as plain
Mrs. to her acquaintances. The timely
suggestion OF my South Georgia CORE
| spondent is worthy of attention.