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.
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.