Show C COLONIAL TITLES only the th ministers and x n few others other called hiiter ster the founders 0 of I 1 boston were thoroughly angll english sh in their social traditions says the youths companion they believed in distinctions of rank only a few persons of unquestioned e eminence lin enee including ministers and their wives received the title of mister and mistress the higher magistrates also took the title but deputies to the general court were not honored with it they along with the great body of citizens were dubbed goodmen and their wives vives if a mister lost his reputation in those days that followed immediately upon his loss of character he was degraded L craded to the rank of goodman officers of the church and of the militia received the titles of their rank or office servants were not honored by any prefix to their names they were plain john or james the distinctions of rank were also preserved by differences in the at style vie and material of dress but a democratic cra tie leaven and a desire for fine clothes were both at work they soon told upon the manners of the settlers within fifteen years of the settlement of the town men in humble station bf be pm to dress as their betters doubtless they felt as pat did who gave it as hi his opinion that every man was as good ns any other man and a great deal better the statute books show that the ma magistrates were sorely troubled both to preserve the traditional distinction in dress and to keep the fashion within the bounds of decorum A man not worth two hundred pounds was forbidden forbid dento to wear ear gold or silver lace or buttons or points at the knees women whose property did not reach two to t o hundred pounds in value were ordered not to wear silk or tiffany hoods or or any apparel with any I 1 lace on it gold silver or thread the general court was v plain spoken in giving its reasons for as enacting this 1 law adv it records its utter detestation and dislike that men ozmean of mean condition should take upon them the garb of gentlemen the courts detestation and dislike also extends to women of the same same rank who wear the garments garment allowable to persons of g greater reater estates or more in aze liberal fi be r 1 education such practices in n persons of sueh such condition the court burtes jud ve 5 intolerable |