174 CEREMONIAL INSTITUTIONS. 



406. Perhaps better in the case of titles than in any 

 other case, is illustrated the diffusion of ceremonial forms 

 that are first used to propitiate the most powerful only. 



Uncivilized and semi-civilized peoples, civilized peoples 

 of past times, and existing civilized peoples, all furnish 

 examples. Among Samoans &quot; it is usual, in the courtesies 

 of common conversation, for all to call each other chiefs. 

 If you listen to the talk of little boys even, you will hear 

 them addressing each other as chief this, that, and the other 

 thing. 7 In Siain, a man s children by any of his inferior 

 wives, address their father as &quot; my lord, the king; &quot; and the 

 word Xai, which is the name for chief among the Siamese, 

 &quot; has become a term of civility which the Siamese give to 

 one another.&quot; A kindred result has occurred in China, 

 where sons speak of their father as &quot; family s majesty,&quot; 

 &quot;prince of the family;&quot; and China supplies a further 

 instance which is noteworthy because it is special. Here, 

 where the supremacy of ancient teachers became so great, 

 and where the titles tze orfutze, signifying &quot; great teacher,&quot; 

 added to their names, were subsequently added to the names 

 of distinguished writers, and where class distinctions based 

 on intellectual eminence characterize the social organiza 

 tion; it has resulted that this name of honour signifying 

 teacher, has become an ordinary complimentary title. An 

 cient Rome furnishes other evidences. The spirit which 

 led to the diffusion of titles is well shadowed forth by 

 &quot;Mominscn in describing the corrupt giving of public tri 

 umphs that were originally accorded only to a &quot; supreme 

 magistrate who augmented the power of the State in open 

 battle.&quot; 



&quot;In order to put an end to peaceful triumphators, ... the grant 

 ing of a triumph was made to depend on the producing proof of a 

 pitched battle which had cost the lives of at least five thousand of the 

 enemy ; but this proof was frequently evaded by false bulletins. . . . 

 Formerly the thanks of the community once for all had sufficed for 

 service rendered to the State; now every meritorious act seemed to 

 demand a permanent distinction. ... A custom came into vogue, by 



