Twentieth Century Culture and Deportment / Or the Lady and Gentleman at Home and Abroad; Containing Rules of Etiquette for All Occasions, Including Calls; Invitations; Parties; Weddings; Receptions; Dinners and Teas; Etiquette of the Street; Public Places, Etc., Etc. Forming a Complete Guide to Self-Culture; the Art of Dressing Well; Conversation; Courtship; Etiquette for Children; Letter-Writing; Artistic Home and Interior Decorations, Etc.

by Maud C. Cooke

Domestic Titles.

By the constitution of the United States it is provided that no titles of nobility shall be granted by the government. Neither shall a person holding a governmental office accept any title from any king, prince or foreign state, except express permission be given by Congress. The President of the United States and the Governor of Massachusetts are the only citizens possessing as officials a title by legislative act. This title is the same: “Excellency.” Governors of other states are given this title by courtesy only. However, this title may be omitted at discretion, and indeed the simpler form given is far more suited to our Republican simplicity of manners.

The following list will be found a complete guide in the use of all honorary titles sanctioned by custom in the United States:

Ambassadors, Foreign, to the United States, are addressed officially by the titles recognized in their own countries, and if they have no title, as “Mr.——,” followed by title of office. United States ambassadors to foreign countries, officially as “Mr.——” or “Hon.——,” followed by title of office. There are but four ambassadors sent out by the United States, the ministers to Russia and England having been but lately invested with that title.

The Hon. John Jones, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or to the Court of St. James.

Archbishop (Roman Catholic)—Letters addressed: “The Most Reverend —— D.D., Archbishop of ——.”

Associate Justices—Addressed with: “Hon., name and name of office”, but spoken of as “Mr. Justice ——.”

Bishop—Addressed: “The Right Reverend —— D.D., Bishop of ——.” The address of Protestant Episcopal and Roman Catholic Bishops is precisely the same. Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church are addressed as the “Reverend Bishop ——, D.D.”

Cabinet Members—Addressed as: “Honorable,” usually contracted to “Hon.,” as: Hon. James Johnson, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Cardinal (Roman Catholic) is addressed in writing, and spoken of as: “His Eminence——, Cardinal (Bishop, Priest, or Deacon, according to rank) of the Holy Roman Church,” spoken to as, “Your Grace.”

Chief Justice—Addressed as: “Hon. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.”

Chief Justice’s Wife—Addressed as: “Mrs. Chief Justice——,” by virtue of a social custom that is largely observed. This custom does not extend to daughters.

Clergymen—Addressed as: “The Rev.——,” spoken to as, “Mr. ——.” If a doctor of divinity, addressed as, “————, D.D.,” or “The Reverend——, D.D.,” and spoken to or of as, “Dr.——.”

College Degrees.—All recipients of regular or honorary degrees should be addressed by name followed by abbreviation of degree: A.B., A.M., Ph.D., M.D., D.D., as, “————, A.B.”

Congress, members of—Addressed: “Hon.——, M.C.”

Esquire.—Justice of the peace, as well as some grades of lawyers are addressed in writing and spoken of as “——, Esq.” Any gentleman may be so addressed, but “Mr.” is preferable.

Government—Official communications from—Always begin “Sir.”

Governor.—May be addressed as “His Excellency the Governor of ——.” Spoken to, “Your Excellency.” See, also, other forms given before.

Governor’s wife is by courtesy addressed, “Mrs. Governor——.” This usage does not apply to daughters.

Judges—Addressed by courtesy with the title, “Honorable,” contracted to “Hon.,” and the name of the office usually follows, as: “Hon.——, U. S. Senate.”

Legislature, members of.—Address as, “Hon.——,” followed by name of office.

Mayor.—“The Hon. Mr.——, Mayor of——.”

Minister, American—Addressed as: “Hon.——, American (or U. S.) Minister to France.”

Municipal Councils, members of.—Courtesy grants the title “Honorable.”

Officers of Army and Navy.—Addressed by name, followed by title of highest rank attained, and, if in command of a military division, naval squadron or station, or on retired list, by a signification of the fact, as: “————, Major General U. S. A., Commanding Military Division of the Atlantic;” “————, Rear Admiral U. S. N., Commanding European Squadron;” “————, General U. S. A., Retired.”

President.—Addressed as “His Excellency the President of the United States.” Spoken to as, “Your Excellency.”

President’s Wife.—Addressed by courtesy, “Mrs. President——.” Usage does not apply to daughters.

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[Forms for Letters]

Lord Chesterfield says in those inimitable letters to his son, that “style is the dress of thoughts, and let them be ever so just, if your style is homely, coarse and vulgar, they will appear to as much disadvantage as your person, though ever so well proportioned, would if dressed in rags, dirt and tatters.”

So true is this that graceful commonplaces, either spoken or written, are far more apt to produce a pleasing impression than weightier matter awkwardly uttered, or uncouthly expressed. Hence, the length and familiarity of the friendly epistle should never be carried into the short, concisely worded business letter, while the social note, though brief, should differ greatly in its gracefully turned phrases from the formal note of acceptance, regret, application, or introduction.

The following forms are to be looked upon, not as copies, but chiefly as suggestions that may be used to solve some doubtful point.