Footnotes:
[8] Always be scrupulously careful to give titles, and with accuracy. The proper designation of a gentleman not in office, is—Esquire. (This, of course, should not be given to a tradesman, or menial.) That of a judge, member of Congress, mayor of a city, member of a State legislature, etc., etc., is—Honorable; that of a clergyman—Reverend; that of a bishop—Right Reverend. You are, of course, familiar with the proper abbreviations for these titles. In writing the address of a letter, it is desirable to know the Christian name of the person to whom it is to be directed. Thus, if a physician, "Charles Jones, M. D.," is better than "Dr. Jones." So, "Dr. De Lancey," or "Bishop Potter," are obviously improper. The correct form to be used in this instance, is:
"To the
"Right Rev. Alonzo Potter, D. D."
The proper address of a Minister representing our government abroad, is—"the Honorable —— ——, Minister for the U.S. of America, near the Court of St. James, or St. Cloud," etc. That of a Chargé d'Affaires, or Consul, etc., varies with their respective offices. A Chargé d'Affaires is sometimes familiarly spoken of as "Our Chargé," at such a Court—or as the "American Chargé."
A clergyman may be addressed as "Rev. Mr. ——," if you do not know the first name, or initial, and so may a doctor of divinity; but in the latter case it would, perhaps, be better to write—"Rev. Dr. James,"—though the more accurate mode will still be, if attainable, "Rev. William James, D.D."
Gentlemen of the Army and Navy should always be designated by their proper titles, and it is well not to be ignorant that a man in either of these professions, when
"He hath got his sword ...
And seems to know the use on't,"
may not like to be reminded that the slow promotion he has attained is unknown to his friends!
[9] It is etiquette to address communications to a lady according to the style she adopts for her card. Thus, the elder of two married ladies, bearing the same name and of the same family, may properly designate herself simply as Mrs. ——, without any Christian name (her position in society and the addition upon her card, of her locale being supposed sufficient to identify her). The wives of her youngest brother, or those of her sons, are then "Mrs. N. C. ——," "Mrs. Charles ——," and so on. The eldest of a family of sisters is, "Miss ——," the younger are "Miss Nellie ——," "Miss Julia ——," etc. In writing to, or conversing with them, you thus individualize them. But when you are upon ceremonious terms with them, in the absence of the elder, you address one of the younger sisters, with whom you are conversing, as "Miss ——," only, omitting the individualizing Christian name. Of course, when writing under such circumstances, a note of ceremony designed for the young ladies of a family, collectively, should be addressed to "The Misses ——;" and if for one of them, alone, to "Miss ——," or, "Miss Mary G. ——," as the case may be.