Proper way to Address a Lady

[Silkie McDonough]

Blast ...even more confused than before. gah.

[Red Sea Trade]

I love to confound people with strange, archaic word meanings. Want to really blow peoples' minds? Point out that the word "girl" could originally mean either a young woman or a young man. Think today's teen boys would like to be called girls? Oh, the possibilities of deviltry are endless!

Wow! Them would be fighting words these days for any poor youthful boy at high school level. Any example/proof of this, Red Sea Trade?

You can find it in any good dictionary that includes word origins. I think I found it in the Oxford Abridged, but a quick online search turned it up in a couple places. It is from the Middle English gurle or girle, a young person of either sex.

[Cheeky Actress]

I am wondering if being a Widow would change ones title in the Colonies during the late 17th Century?

If you have a chance Captain...do ask about this as well.

[sutlerjon]

I always address a lady thusly

Jane Doe

1234 Any St.

What Town, MD

12345

I've been wrong all this time.

No wonder they always come back marked .....

(In best Elvis imitator style)

"Return to sendah,

address unknown,

No such number

No such Zone"

Thankya, thankya vury much

Elvish has left the building.

By the way they do still refer to each other as girls .....

Hey B*&^%, gimme them shoes.

And yes they sometimes do fight about it.

[Capt. Sterling]

I am wondering if being a Widow would change ones title in the Colonies during the late 17th Century?

If you have a chance Captain...do ask about this as well.

Call them...email them... No offense but I don't have time to do your homework as well....

[LadyBarbossa]

I'll stick with M' Lady, thank ye very much! At least it shan't confuse th' b'devil out of ye devils. An' I deserve that title, I did pay th' commission fo' it. :)

Ye don't have t' worry about callin' me Mrs or Mistress or Miss Barbossa or whatever else. Captain or Lady be fine 'nough. :)

~Lady B

[Cheeky Actress]

Call them...email them... No offense but I don't have time to do your homework as well....

No offence. Understood.

[Graydog]

The proper way to address a Lady:

Use a 3x5 inch commercially available label. The label should have name and address of destination in the center. There should be a by name return address placed on the upper left of the label. Then the mailing label should be glued with a non-binding cement directly on her forehead, plainly visible to the mail carrier.

If she wasn’t a lady you could put it elsewhere, but visibility must be maintained.

(Further etiquette note- You should mail the Lady based on an estimation of weight or via a scale she does not see. Remember, even if it may save postage a gentleman doesn't ask a lady here weight.)

P.S. Kidding aside, Capt. Sterling that was a great link and an insightful document you posted.

Edited April 3, 2009 by Graydog

[Capt. Sterling]

I'll stick with M' Lady, thank ye very much! At least it shan't confuse th' b'devil out of ye devils. An' I deserve that title, I did pay th' commission fo' it. :)

Ye don't have t' worry about callin' me Mrs or Mistress or Miss Barbossa or whatever else. Captain or Lady be fine 'nough. :)

~Lady B

Hmmm daddy was a lord then? Earl? Or late husband?

[Rumba Rue]

Now Rumba call her a woman of the town.. ye'll get her attention and quickly although her reaction will not be pleasant.

Hey I thought I was the 'woman of the town'! Never mind.....

[LadyBarbossa]

I'll stick with M' Lady, thank ye very much! At least it shan't confuse th' b'devil out of ye devils. An' I deserve that title, I did pay th' commission fo' it. :)

Ye don't have t' worry about callin' me Mrs or Mistress or Miss Barbossa or whatever else. Captain or Lady be fine 'nough. :)

~Lady B

Hmmm daddy was a lord then? Earl? Or late husband?

Hehehe... not at all... I paid commission to th' Spanish (ironically enough). Daddy dearest :::said rather sarcastically::: had nothin' to do with it. :::grumbles about daddy dearest::: Nor did m' mum. ::none too happy about the parents::: As to late Husband... well, um... Hmm, not sure how t' explain that one. Grants he be a Pirate Lord... the Fiancees before he, God rest their souls, none by blood nor marriage to my understandin' unless Doddard or Poyntz were lyin'.

Tis a long story, m'dear. Long, long story. Th' Spanish can be ..:: clears throat::: "persuaded" to do what one wishes... in a manner o' speakin'. hehehehe...

All in all, an interesting article.

~Lady B

[Cheeky Actress]

Those who were Widowed were still addressed as MRS (Mistresss).

[Cheeky Actress]

Interesting information found in Antonia Fraser's, "The Weaker Vessel"

The book states that by Royal Warrant, issued on August 21, 1660, Englishwomen were permitted upon the stage for the first time. Yet, it wasn't until 1670s the word ‘actress’ had secured in England the ostentatious connotation which would linger for another 250 years!

Yet, the first actresses often concealed their origins, while the honorific appellation “MRS” (pronounced Mistress) which they were granted – as opposed to the opprobrious “Miss”, which would make their material status hard to unravel.

By 1680s the word actress was virtually synonymous with that of “Miss” or “Kept Woman” – at least in the public’s eye. So, the burden of proof otherwise fell upon the individual actress. As a result, the convenient identification of actress and/or Miss led to young ladies becoming actresses precisely in order to secure a rich admirer!

Well then...Lilly would desire to be a MRS (Mistress) but due to her occupation...she'd would be considered a MISS.

Edited April 9, 2009 by Cheeky Actress

[Reginal S. Killingsworth]

By 1680s the word actress was virtually synonymous with that of “Miss” or “Kept Woman” – at least in the public’s eye. So, the burden of proof otherwise fell upon the individual actress.

As a result, the convenient identification of actress and/or Miss led to young ladies becoming actresses precisely in order to secure a rich admirer!

Interesting...I wonder how many women were successful in landing a 'rich admirer'? Is there any evidence, other than Nelly Gwen or any of the other 'Miss' that ended up in the King's bed, that made out well?

[Rumba Rue]

Interesting...I wonder how many women were successful in landing a 'rich admirer'? Is there any evidence, other than Nelly Gwen or any of the other 'Miss' that ended up in the King's bed, that made out well?

I'll never tell.......

[William Brand]

For the sake of argument, and poetic license, how would one address a female steward aboard a privateering ship? A young, unmarried steward with a mean left hook.

[Silkie McDonough]

With the utmost respect.

[Capt. Sterling]

For the sake of argument, and poetic license, how would one address a female steward aboard a privateering ship? A young, unmarried steward with a mean left hook.

since there weren't any as far as we know, opt for the same way one would address a male steward...

[William Brand]

"You there!"

It's doesn't feel right.

[Cheeky Actress]

For the sake of argument, and poetic license, how would one address a female steward aboard a privateering ship? A young, unmarried steward with a mean left hook.

William, it she be a young unmarried woman with a mean left hook...she is by no means a lady?!

[Rats]

Cuppin the bum, a kiss on the neck and my sad puppy eyes always seem to work fer me!!

In the work of “The Virgin’s Pattern: in the Exemplary Life and lamented Death of Mrs. Susanna Perwick,” I noticed that “Mrs.” was the proper title then applied to ‘respectable unmarried females”. The title “Miss” – except in the case of very young girls - was being reserved for the “other sort of woman”.

These days, Mrs. Is a proper title used for a married woman. Miss, of course, is used for young ladies.

Therefore, when did the title rule(s) change?

[Graydog]

For the sake of argument, and poetic license, how would one address a female steward aboard a privateering ship? A young, unmarried steward with a mean left hook.

Simple, Stewardess

Such as, "Oh, stewardess my rum totty is getting cold come here and warm it up."

or if you prefer;

Yaaarrr, Hooky get yer arse over er and look at this er grog. It's done gone cold it has.

[Rumba Rue]

For the sake of argument, and poetic license, how would one address a female steward aboard a privateering ship? A young, unmarried steward with a mean left hook.

"Hey, can I see your right hook?"

duck!!!!!!