WHAT IS AN ESQUIRE ?

Mataura Ensign, Volume V, Issue 234, 2 March 1883, Page 5

WHAT IS AN ESQUIRE ?

" What is an esquire ?" This question is now agitating the generally peaceful parish of Hampstead, and has arisen out of a controversy respecting a tramway extension scheme which threatened to interfere with the proud privilege Hampstead has hitherto enjoyed of being inaccessible to the outer world. The opponents of the scheme have formed themselves into a committee ; and a list of their names, which has been published, includes those of a large number of local tradesmen — butchers, grocers, a nd others — who object to the proposed tramway. Against each of the names on the list appears the affix gj " esquire," and {jthis has caused much excitement and indignation among a number of the working classes, who are in favour of the tramway, and who urge that the tradesmen — by calling themselves '• esquires," — have assumed a dignity to which they have no claim. Letters on the subject from " working men " are published in the local papers; and even the bitterness of the controversy respecting the tramway question seems for a moment to be exceeded by that of the '* esquire question." In these days, when the title of esquire is used without discrimination, it is difficult to say who is, or who is not an esquire. There is no reason why working men should not call themselves esquires if it pleases them to do so. lc would be indeed a great convenience if every man in the United Kingdom, whatever might be his condition in life, were allowed this title. At present offence is often given when writing to strangers by addressing the letter to " Mr So-and-So," and thus rendering the unknown correspondent, however magnificent his position in his parish, unable to look the letter-carrier in the face when he meets him in the street, at least with any. degree of comfort.