The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-03
ORIGIN OF MR.. MRS. AND MISS.
Greatest Roman Mobiles Were Not
Given Prefix When Addressed.

Greatest Roman Mobiles Were Not
Given Prefix When Addressed.
1t Is really a curious system that We
have here and in every other place. Of
putting a prefix. IN order to be polite or
as an act OF courtesy. TO the name Of the
person whom we greatly esteem or who
Is connected with US by the bonds OF
friendship, says the Mexican Herald.
This custom plainly demonstrates the
curious existing social relations. for is
there any reason why people should not
be called by their names alone? And. Il
It is considered a proof OF respect, whence
comes that respect?
Why should we use the prefix don"
"senora," or 'senorita." then. as a mat
Ter OF necessity?
The most humble Roman, even II he
We're a slave. whether he was addressing
q good friend OF his or whether he bowed
with respect before the great Caesar,
would not have thought It necessary TO
use any prefix whatever in order TO per-
net have been considered an act OF dis
courtesy toward his superior
During the time of the Roman emper-
ors It was considered an act Of personal
respect 10 use the word "dominus" Chead
Of the house,. According to Suetonius.
Emperor Claudius, DESTROYS Of becoming
popular, offered banquets 10 the masses;
that Is to say. to the lower classes, and
in order to inspire confidence among the
ArI 49, =
considered them his equals he would
shake hands with every person who ar
rived and call him "dominus." or mas
ter, but the custom was not established
as a general rule, because (dominus) had
another meaning. although the poets
would use II In its feminine gender.
domino" as an endearing name among
lovers.
The modern use Of "dominus" aid not
appear until the Western empire came 10
an end. What until then had been a cas-
ual tribute OF respect became necessary
in order TO address persons Of high rank.
and a lady. wife of a knight or wife OF
the owner OF a castle, became inca DOM
ina" then inca DONNA" afterward ina
DONNA" and lastly madame" The
young unmarried woman of the Middle
Ages afterward became "dominicella- -
which afterward became "demoiselle. -
and this finally became ''mademoiselle. -
4 knight was domino" and afterward
''donmo." from which the Spanish don
Is taken. But later on the masculine and
feminine gender melted Into one dame. -
which meant gentleman as Well as lady.
That is why the present French exclaina-
ticn dame means senior" and not "se-
nora" as some people suppose.
Toward the twelfth century the word
dame" as a masculine title began to be
substituted by another, the Latin "se-
Nor" which has survived in the same
form. used as ''senor" IN Spanish, "sen-
hor' in Portuguese. "signor" in Italian
and "seigneur" 10 French. The same
word mutilated stands for the French
"sieur' or monsieur" In English II
has its equivalent in "sir." which at one
time meant reverend, and was also q
university title applied TO bachelors.
The "maitre" OF the French is an appel
Iative which is applied to respectable per
sons who deserve respect. but of low
classes, as. for example. in Spanish II IS
said ''Senor Pope" to an individual who
is respectable. but belongs to the lower
class.