The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-02

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light OF df1cult conGndrum.
Perhaps we should attribute to the growing
scarcity Of domestic material that inclination
on the part OF the New York matronage TO look
for sons-in-aw abroad. about which we hear
something in Miss Mncgillcuddy's recollections.
IL was formerly q cherished article in the creed
Of patriotic youth that all loyal daughters Of
Columbia must infinitely prefer what some Of
our Western journals describe rs the high
toned full-breasted American gentleman to the
sprig Of foreign nobility. no matter how ancient
his lineage. or how gorgeous his social rank.
And IL Ia true that 10 this day. as we are credi-
bly, Informed. tho matrimonial market is con-
troed by native Americans. Nevertheless the
mothers OF Manhattan seem to be no longer
actuated by purely patriotic motives. and n more
exclusive ambition Is held responsible for many
serious losses by export which may occur 10
the readers mind. To the honest democrat
reared in the traditions OF the fathers. this
morbid hankering nfter titles and other gew
Raws OF rotten arstocracy bodies evil to the
commonwealth. and, like the eating OF opium,
or the introduction Of the Chinese. should DO
checked by heavy pcnalties. Some wholesome.
precedonts. by the way. might easily be found
in certain statutes OF the Edwards, which inn
prsoned within the four seas tho person
land fortune) Of an heiress. We submit 10 the
lawmakers OF our State whether the growing
exodus OF opulent maidens does not call for
stringent legislation. provided. OF course. tho
ancient writ OF ne Great reono cannot DO
stretched to cover the case.
Shrewd American mammas in estimating the
briiancy Of allen unions. do not forget how
seldom their daughters have prospered in the
assault upon Englands hereditary legislators.
On the other hand. In Italy. where the last
shadow OF baronial right has anished where the
abolition Of entail and the enforced subdivision
OF estates has well nigh beggarcd the haughtest
houses. they have found men by no means
averse from gliding a furnished name with
little plebean gold. Butthose pale ghosts.of no.
bility do not tempt wise women OF tho world
like the splendid magnates 'of Britain. whose
youngest cons. indeed. and remotcst kins-
men. shine with a reflected lustre quite
strong enough 10 dazzle the republican
eye. Pas In rose. II vecu pros dele"
seems TO have been the guiding principle
in certain recent marriages. for instance
whore the bridegroom was not supposed 10
have n shilling In tho world or tho faintest
chance OF succeeding 10 his fathers seat in the
Upper House. and whose title. derived merely
from courtesy. OF course cannot descend to his
children. who must rank as simple commoners.
Here We may suggest. considering that tho
English gentleman OF good family has become
a somewhat frequent phenomenon in New York
hiahiuG hVomss NhhN IL hlikut po Wch lOt toHlt
ladies Of ton TO take a rudimentary lesson or
two In the common forms OF British nomenca-
ture After adequate study they would doubt
less grasp the fact that baronet does not hap
pen to be nobloman. and further. that his
Christian name really must not be dropped
from his appellation. that distinguished
English peer Sir Smith" las tho French
and our own provincial journals some-
times have H. being delicious impossi-
bility. n.rmoreover. the maidons OF Manhat-
tan could be persuaded to remember that when
a Christian name follows the term Lord"
Iord John This. or Lord George That.
the bearer. however well born. ia merely
n private gentleman. they would escape
some blunders which arc not only ludicrous In
themselves but happen unluekily to be idenu
cal with those for which the British laundress
and barmaid are notorious. 1t is too Ineligible.
unhappy. that some English visitors. not suf-
fciently grand segneurs TO afford 10 be blandly
tolerant coupling foolish little slips OF the sort
with sundry tricks Of idiom. which they are not
wont 10 associate with gentlcwomcn. should
shrink from launching their American ac-
duaintances in London society. On the other
hand. we ought 10 point out in passing quite
different typo OF British traveller. which intelli
gent and well-bred Americans are justified in
finding insuf1eraby offensive. 1t Is indeed
n melancholy fate TO DO inspected and patron
lied by lot Of half-educated. loud
voiced. loutlsh youths. the bumptious on
spring OF cotton lords. corn factors. and iron
men who being sternly reegated at homo to
the category OF snob or cad. find Il refreshing TO
assume In foreign parts the role OF English
Nristocrat These are the gentry VINO have sat
for the portrait Of tho free born Brton as carl
catured on the French and American stage. and
there are few things moro entertaining than TO
watch a fellow OF this kidney. who would never
by any chance see the inside Ola first rate Lon
don club but whom commercial relations have
brought in contact with superior class OF
Americans. loungng with affected nonchalance
and aifable condesoension through tho rooms
OF the Union or the Knickerbocker No doubt
the chronic anglophobia which still Rfricts n
few New Workers would be duly mitiRntcd II
they could DO made to understand that obnox-
ious individuals OF the aw WEAKLY" species are
seldom encountered in English society which
regards the aggressive self-asserting. deep
intoning snob with profound antipathy and dis
gust
But while the emotions with which we well
comethe natives Of Britain may range all the
way between obsequous Difference and in
stnctve. vehement aversion. we have not
learned 10 noursh that dark suspicion Of their
matrimonial designs which has become asso-
ciated in the paternal mind with those scions Of
CONTINENTAL nobllllJ WHO tAt'Hu lutlE AihNHls 10
the Western hemisphere And IT is a fact that
the genuine Partisan. or tho denzen OF Flor
encc or Madrid, II he be man Of fortune rs
well w. fashion. feels no special yearning 10
I enlarge his notions Of geography. and vastly
prefers mild reproduction OF an English fox
hunt TO the fierce reality Of buffalo
chase on the plains. But whom race
horses cards. and certain other expensive roe
reatons have depleted the treasury Of the
, young viveur he bethinks him now and then
- Of the accumulntons assigned by fable 10 the
( American merchant as well as an amiablo pro-
| pcnsity Of the merchants daughter TO endow n
10 title with n mysterious charm. In short tho
statement perhaps is not too broad. that nc
r youthful unmarried nobloman Of southern Eu-
0 rope-and the reader shall decide whether We
: ought to except the gentlemen engaged in dlplo-
matte afIairs-was ever actuated by the puoril,
motive Of idle curiosity in his visit to this coun-
0 try and it must be confessed that the delicat,
H. matrimonial negotiations which engross their
r attention are conducted with considerable skill