Evening star., 1925-06-18

permitted to go through life knowing
his friends and acquaintances simply
as Bill, and John and Mary.
He meets you today, and tomorrow
greets you as Senator"
How are you, SENATOR" he asks.
You could kill him. too. with the
greatest Of pleasure. You have the
| highest admiration for, the members
of the upper house, too. You do not
| belong to that list that persists in
hurting epithets at Senators.
You know that many Of them are
really Big Men.
The title Of Senator" ought to fiat
ter you, but somehow 1t does not. 1t
| simply riles you. The man who care
lessly uses such titles probably has in
the back Of his mind the idea that he
is being pleasant.
He ought to take up the study Of
psychology. Instead of believing that
the titles Of Cap" and Brother" and
Senator" and Doctor" or Doc" are
pleasing to his friends, he would real.
ize that each one of them, when not
properly given, is more or less Of a
| reproach.
When you call a private General"
is 1t not really reproach, informing
him that he has yet long, long road
to travel?
To be called General" by the way,
by some citizen who inquiries the way
to the White House, is an insult
Why can't the insufferable boob
merely say, Can you tell me the way
| to the Presidents house. MiEter?"
Why does he find 1t necessary to
phrase it. General. where does the
two
do 1 look like General?" you
should retort. do you see any
| epaulets? Any stars? Do 1 look
bowed down with the care of an
Army? l am no General, Mister. I
would be proud Of the distinction, If
l had earned it, but, being inescap-
ably civic. can lay no claim to the
title at all. Call me anything you
please. sir. except General. Brother,
Captain, Doctor or Senator"
X 4
After all. what is the necessity for
our overuse of salutation titles?
The average man today seems to
think that he cannot speak to an.
other without addressing him as
something. Many are in eternal
doubt as to what they shall call others,
especially superior officers.
Why call them anything at all?
Inc easiest ana pest way TO solve
this problem is simply to omit the
| use of all salutary titles. or forms Of
address. "Sir" and Madam" are
graceful for the use of children, but
| their elders may well drop them
The menial, by certain Difference
| in the tone of voice, could ask, Did
| you call?" as well as Did you call,
sir?"
In everyday life It is just as easy.
after you get used to it, to inquire,
| How are you?" as to say How are
| you. captain?"
When a sightseer, standing on
Pennsylvania avenue, sees a white
mansion which strikes him as fa-
| miliar, 1t is Just as polite for him
| to turn to you and ask, rs that the
White House pas to inquire, Broth
| er. is that the White House,"
You amt no brother of mine!"
we feel called upon to sing, in
George O'Connor's famous version.
Our daily talk is splattered with
| this misuse of titles and saluta tons
which could be better omitted. Then,
| when used, they would mean some
! thing. The word brother" for in
stance, is a sacred one. but when ap-
piled to every Tom, Dick and Harry
| becomes meaningless.
| Even some of the dear brothers in
our lodges are bores and fools at the
best; so what chance has the stran
ger of being a "Brother"7