MR. AND MRS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9257, 5 December 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

MR. AND MRS.

In earlier times au ordinary man was simply William or John ; that is to say, he had merely a Christina uame without any kind of " handle " before it, or surname after it. Some means of distmtingmshing one John or one William from another John or another William became necassary. Nicknames derived from a man's trade or kia dwelling-place, or from some personal peculiarity, ware tacked on to'their Christian names, tand plain John becamo John Smith. As yet there were no " misters" in the land. Some John Smith accumulated more .wealth than the bulk of his fellows—becarji-, perhaps, a landed proprietor, or- an enip oyer of hired labour. Then he-began to be l'ailed in the Norman French, the " maistre " of this place or that, of these •workmen or of those. In time tha " maistre," or " maister " as it soon be^ came, got tacked on before his name, and he became Maister Smith, aud his wifo was Maistress Smith. But gradually thfe sense of possession was lost sight, and the title was conferred upon any kind, by mere possession of wealth or by holding some position of more or less consideration and importance. It is only within comparatively modern times that the term came to be considered an almost indispensable adjunct to everyone's name when meiit; >ned in ordinary conversation or writing ■ tfaistress Smith soon became Mistress Smith. Exactly how and when *•"». terra pot corruuted cannot be said.'

Maister smicn, nowever, remainea aiaiswr Smith long after his wife became MistressSmith;