Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-01
A POPULAR CRAZE.
GenealOgy and Heraldry Succeeding
Esthettcism-Ftrst Families tu New
York in Search OF ArmOrtal BearinUs
Cont Of Arms-ShOdd yites After
Second Hand Goods.

From the New York Mercury.
"Genealogy and heraldry have become pop
uar craze" said an explorer OF genealogical
records and emblazoner OF family coats of arms
to Mercury reporter yesterday. ''lf YOU ara
not pressed for time, accompany me TO my Office,
and will convince you that the subject OF ar
moral bearings has more devout apostles than
Intense estheticism could ever boast" While
speaking. the man of heraldry had set out for his
office. and few minutes later IL was gained n
is located downtown. i'm an old-fashioned build
ing formerly known as the Manhattan hotel
1T requires both time and labor to turn out
complete family coat of-arms," explained Mr.
Usher, the genealogist. I'm the beginning the
oldest pedigree of the family must be obtained
Then genealogical record is prepared, and
after all the material is at hand the task of put
ting all together becomes necessary. The
shield proper Is the object upon which the arms
are displayed. 1t may be of any form, with the
exception OF the diamond, which is reserved for
ladies'. The crest is common adjunct to the
shield, and consists of an object or objects
placed above 1t. The wreath or Torso Is made
OF twisted ribbons of two principal colors Of the
arms. and on which the crest rests. Many DIFF
ferent forms are used, for the helmet hat Ia
always placed between the shield and the crest;
but the one usually preferred is that Of an Es-
qulre In profile of steel, with the visor closed,
and turned to the right side Of the shield.
small mantle attached TO the helmet Is gen
orally represented by crimson velvet or silk
lined with ermine OF the colOrs of the arms, and
Is often cut or torn to give the whole an irregu-
lar form. Lastly, the motto cri-deguerve, is
aword or sentence upon scroll generally placed
below the shield.
'What families In New York who are consid-
cred part and parcel Of the first circles possess
armorial bearings!" ITO answer briefly all
But the finest and most imposing that ! now
recall are the yanderbits the Van Rensseears,
the JOnases, the Beekmans the Stuarts the
Liyingstons, the Goelets, the Gerreys the Jays,
the Gibbses, the Lawrences, the Hoyts, the
Stetsons, the Perkinses, the Stevens the
Osbournes, the Lockwoods, the Lorillards,
s. l.. NJ. Barlow, Wilson q. Hunt. Cortland
Palmer, Mrs. A. L. Stewart, August Belmont,
Lawrence Jerome, A. Wright Sanford
and f. Faik, and superintendent Tousey, OF the
New York Central and Hudson river railroad.
Those of the Livingstons are superb, being very
chaste and Of radiant design. The Planners are
complicated, but very fne
LAS matter Of course, many of these are
very costly, for to the possessors Of money is q
small object. They take family pride I'm their
coat-of-arms, and guard them as closely as
though they were family plate"
BEST CUSTOMERS.
what class of persons do YOU regard as your
best customers?" 'Tradesmen. As soon as q
person acquires a competency he sets about
gathering every scrap OF his family history.
This is not difficult task for there are agents
like myself who will make all the necessary
search. Sometimes the heraldio emblems are
not satisfactory. Frequently there lie q faint
about them that can DO read like an open book
and there is no way to expunge II. Whenever
the bar sinister Is encountered the would-be
patron arrives at the conclusion that his an
cestOrs were no better than they should have
been. now recall one ludicrous case Of this
nature: Some years ago when Fanny Davenport
found herself becoming famous she determined
upon having her family coat-of-arms. The late
records that Edwards Pierrepont was Joshua
Munson, was given the order to execute. The
Davenport crest s surmounted by the head
Of q
wELsHMAN IN A MOOSE,
and when the emotional Fanny discovered this
fact she was very angry. She desired that IL be
omitted, but Mr.. Usher firmly declined to do so.
declared that she would not have the armorial
bearings Of the DayenpOrts for a gold mine and
she was as good as her word for Mr.. Usher's
son has the design at the present time.
lit is customary for ladies TO go into ecstacies
over crest. The more valiant 1t appears the
better they are pleased, and some are SO carried
away that they order the emblems copied or
friends"
"Do you meet with persons who adopt the
armOrial bearings Of another family" At inter-
walls. There are members Of the shoddy aristo-
crazy who find 1t difficult to procure an appro-
pirate family coat. They invariably purchase
something OF q secondhand nature, and make
few alterations. The world rs none the wiser,
and If the purchasers are satisfied. why should
not be-"
Lime-Kiln Club Observations.
From the Detroit Free Press.