26 - Sunday, August 9, 1987 - North Shore News Lifestyles — USE THE CGRRECT FORM OF ADDRESS rs. does not belong to Wir. DEAR MISS MANNERS — A while back, my husband Nowadays *Mistress’’ has come — people, even “these people,” style know that you should have used . wae . . 4 ahinge else “e Tyee e title d fast nanic. received a photocopy of his daughter's report card from his ' mean something else. But we themselves. the title and fas iwEDe ex-wife Seth these-peo le live on of ate, have a modern form that is also DEAR MISS MANNERS — How DEAR MISS MANNERS = — : ° se peop , . derived from the respectable do f know if | should call people Could you please advise me of the p' and serves the same — by their first names or by their ti- meaning and origin of (rains on on The report card was death, which hy traditional stan- ‘*Mistress ~ photocopied on both sides. The dards would be ‘Mrs.’ with fis function: ‘‘Mys."" Miss Manners tes? bridal gowns? . back had my husband's ea-wife’s full name. (There are hordes of — believes that honorific to be amaz- GENTLE READER — Recom- GENTLE READER — The mean- signature on it, as required by the — people who erroneously — betieve ingly useful. One error of etiquette mended Method: Call the person ing? Even in weddings, _fot _ school, otherwise. Miss Manners knows you missed is that it is never cor- by his or her title and surname. [f everything is symbolic. A train is eo But | am wondering about the — because she hears, by every mail, rect fo use any honorific with one’s you are told, “Oh, no, please call just a train, nola signal that one is ; way she signed her mame. She of cases of poor widows being signature. me Joe.” then you will know to hopping aboard a new life. wrote “Mrs.", her given name and = hounded by their rude friends to What is more, you yourself have use the first name. The origin of the modern formal my busband’s last name. do the incorrect, not to mention committed the greatest etiquette Not Recommended Method: Use white wedding dress is Victorian, : I'm not (aking issue with the use — callous, thing.) error of all in regard to names: Ht the first aame. Hf the person draws and in those days, both evening at of the last name, but — correct me However, a divorcee who took is overwhelmingly rude to attempt up stiffly and says, “fam Dr, and day dresses often had trains. : if I'm wrong — doesn’t Mrs." the puoltic position that she had to interfere with the way other Smythers, if you please,”* you will Don't they still? ’ really mean ‘Mr.‘s’’ or “helong- been wronged and the divorce was . ing to a man"? Isn't that how jf none of her doing, continued to “t style herself as she had during 4 Re i rriane How do you like that one? ° miss Many modern divorced ladies use “*Mrs."" exactly as your hus- manners band’s ex-wife does. it is, in fact, more common than not. However, Miss Manners doubts that you would get much modern support for your theory that “Mrs."’ means ‘belonging to Mr.” Both ‘‘Mrs.’’ and ‘‘Miss’* are derived from the older general term that apptied to all ladies, married, single or divorced: ‘Mistress’. by Judith Martin 1987 CIVIC GL SiKoot, AM/FM Cassette, Decor Group, Sport Mirrors, Koko Mats. PDI & Freight included came about? [fs it possible that because she used her piven name with the *‘Mrs."’, that should ex- plain everthing? Your comments would be most appreciated — especially since, as far as I know, [ am the only ‘*Mrs.°* here. GENTLE READER — Miss Manners has such a wealth of commentary to offer you on the subject of the proper use of the honorific ‘*Mrs."" that she begs your permission to begin by mak- ing -an observation about some- thing you did not ask. That is: Anyone who refers to her husband's daughter as one of “these people’ is spoiling for a fight. . Now, as to your chosen weapon, “Mrs.” You are correct that by old- fashioned forms of address, “Mrs.” with a lady’s given name is always incorrect. Always. A divorcee was styled ‘*Mrs.’? with first her maiden name and then her married surname. A widow's name remains exactly as it was before her husband's 1987 CIVIC 4x4 WAGON 5 spd.. AM/FM Cassette, Spectrum Package, Dual Sport Mirrers, Moko Mats ONLY Stk. #0321 1987 ACCORD LX S/Roai, Automatic, Decor Group, Koko Mats. Dual Sport Mirrors, Centre Armrest, Front/Rear Mudflaps, AM/FM Cassette, PDI & Freight include Aren't you smart! All your photocopying necds are experuy taken care of by the ‘copy specialists’! We have five copy machines to serve vou ~~ better. including the incredible Nerox WA 9500 which does 120 high quality copies aminute! No charge for collating or coloured stock either. While-vou- wait service, loo. These are just a few of the Special Savings you'll find this weekend at Pacific Honda your VALUE Dealer -— plus, right now we're giving huge trade-in allowances. We want your trade! CONCORDE COPY CENTRES LID. The North Shore's Copy Specialists. 1350 Pemberton Avente North Vancouver / Ph: 985-5115 Mon.-Fri: