The sun., 1885-11-01

purlieus, II is 80 contrived that he shall not
transmit his honors to another generation.
Tho distinctions among the aristocracy arc
numerous and intricate. Tho eldest son OF a
nobeman OF the rank OF earl is commonly
called y. By his fathers second title. for many
peers are OF several degrees; tho families have
generally been ennoblcd In n lower grade. and
aiterward risen to the rank they now enjoy.
Some OF the dukos have thus half score OF
inferior titles. the Duke OF Athole no fower
than seventeen. Tho younger sons OF dukes
and mnrauises use the prefix OF Lord be-
fore their Christian name. while tho younger
sons OF earls and all the sons OF viscounts and
barons have that OF Honorable. In nearly
the same way the daughters OF dukes mar
ouses. and earls are called Ladies'. and tho
daughters Of viscounts and barons Honor
able. In all there must be eight or ten thou
sand Of these people. including tho widows and
children OF deceased peers. who retain dilut-
cd nobility. The grandchildren OF peers are
untitled. but the eldest son OF an oldest son.
being in the direct line OF succession. has a
place In the olignrchy
Sometimes man whose father is dead comes
into title transmitted from n more distant
relative. an uncle or cousin. and then. though
he becomes a peer. his mother has not tho
rank which she would have enjoyed had he in
herited from his father. Plain Mrs. Jones may
have son an earl or even duke. In such
cases the brothers and sisters are raised to the
rank OF . peers children: and the world calls
them paper" lords and ladies: but the mother
does not receive the promotion for she would
then become q peeress without having married
a peer.
Rank. however. descsnds below tho nobility.
The grade next to that OF baron is baronet.
This dignity is hereditary. but conters no right
"a noott In hal nfT -. Tt-
bears tho title OF Sir before his Christian
name. and his wife is called Lady. The first
baronats were created by James l., and tho
title in his reign was often sold At time
when the Sovereign or the Minister was lavish
OF the honor. a certain Duchess OF Queensberry
exclaimed that she could not spit out Of hor
carriage window without splitting on a baronet.
The famous Lady Holland OF Holland House
was almost as arrogant in our own day.
She was baroness. and Sir Henry Holland.
tho well-known physician and baronet. had
been one OF her favorite guests: but when she
heard that he was about to marry. she declared
that II he introduced another Lady Holland in.
to London society he should never enter her
doors again. Tho dignity. however. is not
little priced by its rossessors. OF whom there
were when last counted no fewer than s73.
The lowest title OF all Is that OF knight which
Ia not hereditary. and carries littlo distinction.
but tho knight is called Sir. and his wife Lady.
In society titles are dropped as much as pos
sible. Nobody nowadays says your grace"
to duke or an Archbishop. and to use my
lord or my lady or your lordship' or
"ladyship" savors OF the shop or the servants
nan. Neitner 90 people OF condition often talk
OF the Marquis OF bute or the countess OF YORK.
among themselves tney say Lord Butte ana
Lady Cork. Indeed lord and lady are the
appelatiohs given IN conversation TO every
pouy IN tne peerage oeiow the ducai rank. 10
ouKe you say Duke. ana 10 duchess
Duchess' thoucn people not USED 10 this
hisn company oten slip IN grace or two.
TO tho amusement OF their neighoors, but
never that couiu observe to the dis
turoance or surprise OF the ducal personnges
themselves. inese proDao'y thihk the present
familiarity with which people OF their import
ance arc addressed deciueuiy inappropriate.
certain duchess went not long ago TO call
upon countess named Lazy Cowper. put
found she was mistaken In the person: and.
expressing her regret. she said: suppose 1t
was some INFERIOR Lazy oo"per shoulo nave
ASKED ior. Inc peeresses. inueeu. are not at
all pieasea that the wlVes OF Knights ana
oarohsIs shouiu take the titse OF Lazy. Inc
ancient form prescriped tor these gent!ewomen
OF lower degree was Dame. ana the superior
ladies' think tnat their INFERIOR sisters should
retain tho older appeilation. 30 that the dis
tinction IN rank might Do apparent. AS 1t ls
marchloness may os coniouhdea win the
wlle OF an alderman LOT elther may Do Lazy
Bath.
butthe oaronets' wives ana the knights wives
ike tho custom very well. MOST women prize
rank moro than men and once heard close
observer say that no woman IN England would
refuse duke. don't think he was right.
Nevertheless. woman who had ears for grand
fathers on both sides OF the house but enjoved
no title herself confessed to me that she was
diving to be- NV lady. Isaid to this scion Of
inu.,,,or. horsos w, .,,uI ,.,,.,. =
''u''i.o .o"o Io"o''. ~ euio'' "ouiuh w
the wife OF knight?" Oh. yes. would" she
replied: "anythine TO be NV ladv'"
pasides a., thosa tbaro ~. war,o,. omo,.,
nes'oes al tnose' 'here are various olnciai
people with temporary titles or precedence
s,oin u,,i. ~ Du III. -, ,.,o 'Io w. ~ %h.
Ea,h G NUS ih fahk y. oelhe IN once. inc
Prime Minister himself has no precedence by
virtue OF his place. and have seen Mr.. Glad.
stono ,vhan a. ,ha a haad o,tha Gnma,non. ~
e'oho. "nen a. lue ie"u " .no uo'erhuleht 20
in to dinner after barons OF his own creation.
Even when Ministers enjoy n temporarv rank