The Washington herald., 1908-07-19
SOCIAL OUEsToNs ANswERED
By TIE ARBITER.
ouestion-Can you tel ne where the tern rs
qGiTs'' originated and what IL inpliess


ouestion-Can you tel ne where the term Is
quiTe'' Origiaated and what il inDliesi
ESQUIRE
Answer-The word esquire comes from
the latin. seutiger, a shield bearer, and
meant originally one who carried the
escu, or shield Of a knight The title is
English. and according 10 The Herald's
college only the following persons are
legally entitled 10 use II; The sons OF
peers. baronets, and knights. the eldest
sons OF the younger sons Of peers and
their eldest sons in perpetulty. the
knights OK arms, the heralds OF arms.
officers Of the army and navy Of the rank
Of captain and upward. sheriffs OF coun-
ties for life. J. Prs OF counties
while in commission, sergeants-at-
law. queens counsel. sergeants-at-arrns
companions OF the orders Of knighthood.
certain principal officers in the Kings
household. deputy iieutenants, commits
sioners Of the court OF banqueruptcy. mas
ters OF the supreme court. those IN whom
the King. In any commission or warrant
styles esquire. and any person who. in
virtue OF his high Office, takes precedence
OF esquires. and the graduates Of the uni
versities not in holy orders. It is IN a
word. title Of dignity just below that Of
knight
It has been generally adopted In the
United States where Il is conceded 10 pro-
fessional and literary men. especially
lawyers who in the first half Of the last
century we're Invariably known as es-
quires or squires. Shakespeare makes
Robert Shallow say. 7 am Robert Shall
low. sir. a poor esquire and one OF the
Kings justices Of the peace
ousstion-Yog said in one of your prs5ious letters
that al social questions pertaining 70 an admins
traton were decided by the Second Assistant secre-
taTy Of State Why IS this once given especially to
hin1 Why should these questions rot be decided
BY the FIRST Assistant HEC
The position Of Second Assistant secre-
tary OF State is practically a permanent
one. held by the Incumbent for life. OF
during good behavior Il is the only one
among the higher Offices that is not
changed when there Is change IN the
administration, and the holder Of It is
expected 10 teach the new officials the
ropes" 10 make them familiar with the
traditions Of the Office and its social and
Official etiquette. He Is Informed on all
fine points Of International coGrtesies. he
has the law OF precedence at his tongues
end, he knows the social history Of Official
life since the time OF Washington. so he
has come 10 be looked upon as the ulti-
mate court 10 which all social disputes
may be carried He combines a dozen
Offices IN one. IS often Acting Secretary
Of State, and az the same time marshal.
chamberlain. gentleman OF the bedcharn-
ber: 10 be brief. he is called upon for
every purpose under the sun and often
receives ambassadors in the morning and
IN the afternoon. arranges a dinner list
for scme poor. confused Senator's wife.
or dictates the visiting list for the wife
Of new Cabinet officer who Is making
her first appearance On the social stage
In a word, he Is the man OF ali work for
the administration which he Is serving.
and everything he undertakes he does
wei. for should he fail IN any OF the va
rious lines he Is expected 70 be master OF
he would soon lose his official head. The
First Assistant Secretary OF state. on the
contrary, IS changed 50 often that he
rarely has time TO become acquainted
with social and Official details. and is
quite content 70 appeal TO the Second As
sistant IN case OF difficulty.
oresSiaa-Is the widow of an s-zy oaee- permit
ted T. Gse the title of her dsosased husoaudg For
ins,Ancs. IS il god taste fo- zidoE q a general
IN the United States AIRY % style herself Ms Gen
Blank SERVICE.
Answer-No, the widow Of an army Of
ncer Is not permitted 70 use the title OF
her deceased husband. at least. It Is not
regarded as good form TO do so. although
there has been no Official ruling in the
matter II she wishes. however. 10 es-
tabi!sh her identity she can introduce
herself and be introduced by her friends
as Mrs. X. the widow of Gen. X. which
should serve every purpose or meet any
emergency that might arise In Europe.
for instance. the family Of military Of /
hcers and state officials are accorded /
much greater consideration than the ordi- |
nary tra@eler. and those so connected
should not hesitate n nah. - tr-o---