COLONIAL ETIQUETTE
Generally speaking, etiquette is followed in the colonies and in India
by English men and women very much as in the mother country as regards
its principles, rules, and observances. One marked difference occurs in
the hours of calling, it is true, they being regulated by climate. In
hot climates, the early morning hours, before noon, and late evening
hours, after sunset, are, according to the fashion of the place, the
chosen hours for calling; but in more temperate climes--resembling our
own--the afternoon hours are, as with us, the hours for calling. Again,
the rule that residents should call upon new-comers, whether they be
visitors of other residents or intending residents, holds equally good
both in civilian and military circles alike.
In all colonies and dependencies "Government House" is the centre to
which all society gravitates--that is to say, that all new-comers,
whether they are to become permanent or temporary residents, providing
their social position warrants the action, hasten to make known their
arrival by writing their names and addresses in the visitors' book kept
at each Government House for the purpose. The object of doing this is to
be received at Government House, and thus to obtain an entrance into the
society of the place. What follows upon this social observance--it
hardly merits the name of civility, such calls being actuated by
self-interest in the first instance--depends upon a variety of
circumstances, the position of the caller, and whether the stay is to be
permanent or temporary, whether introductions are brought or not, and so
on. The invitations extended to them are regulated accordingly. They may
be limited to afternoon "at homes"; or receptions, dinners, and dances
may be included; or a visit to the summer residence of the Governor and
his wife may also be reckoned amongst invitations, as this latter is not
an unusual display of hospitality accorded to certain individuals.
* * * * *
=How the Governor of a Colony should be addressed= by his guests depends
upon his rank. As he represents the sovereign, it would be quite correct
to address him as "Sir," as being the most deferential mode, and
Governors as a body rather like to be thus addressed. In the case of a
Governor being a knight--a very usual contingency--it would be equally
correct to address him as "Sir George," and not as "Sir." When a
Governor has not received knighthood, he should be addressed as "Mr.
A----," when it is not desired to be too stiff and formal.
In conversation, when referring to the Governor--he being present--it
should not be "The Governor," but "Lord Blank," "Sir George," or "Mr.
A---- said so and so," unless strangers are present, before whom it
would seem right to be a little formal.
In addressing a Governor by letter, the envelope should be directed to
"His Excellency Sir George Blank," however friendly its contents may be;
but when writing to a Governor's wife, it has not been thought right to
style her "Her Excellency," but simply "Lady Blank," unless in the case
of a Viceroy's wife, as in India or Ireland; but as against this the
point was raised some years ago, and it was then decided that the wives
of Governors were entitled to be so addressed.
Colloquially, the members of a Governor's suite refer to both the
Governor and his wife as "His" and "Her Excellency," and style them
"Your Excellency," and all who approach them officially, being of
inferior rank, do likewise; but socially they are seldom so addressed.
* * * * *
=A Colonial Bishop= should not actually be styled "My Lord," or referred
to as "The Lord Bishop," if it is desired to be quite correct; but "My
Lord" or "The Lord Bishop" is now often used by persons who know it is
not the proper style of address, but make use of these titles, wishing
to be more deferential than scrupulously correct. In writing to a
colonial bishop, the envelope should be addressed to "The Right Rev. the
Bishop of ----," and the letter commenced "Right Rev. Sir" or "Dear
Bishop Blank."
A colonial officer who has received the King's special permission to
retain the title of "Honourable" which he bore in his colony, is
accorded at Court, _i.e._ at a levee, Court ball, etc., the same
precedence as a peer's son, who is styled "Honourable," but this does
not practically give him any rank or precedence at ordinary social
gatherings, where that special grant is unknown or ignored. Also the
privilege confers no rank or precedence upon the wife or daughters of a
colonial Honourable, just as the wife of a Right Honourable here has no
special precedence.
The title of Honourable cannot continue to be borne by a retired
colonial officer or Legislative Councillor unless it has been specially
authorised by the sovereign on the recommendation of the Secretary of
State for the Colonies.