only the gentry were called mr. and mrs. this included the preacher and his wife. a friend of mine who is one of the gentry of this century got on the trail of his ancestry last spring, and traced them back to where they were not allowed to be called mr. and mrs., and, fearing he would fetch up in scotland yard if he kept on, he slowly unrolled the bottoms of his trousers, got a job on the railroad, and since then his friends are gradually returning to him. he is well pleased now, and looks humbly gratified even if you call him a gent.