The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-07-04
THETRUTH ABOUT TITLES
OF THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN NO
BLES AND ARISTOCRATS.

Many Untitled Aristocrats-Points to
BE Observed by Americans in Confer
ring Friendship on Titled Foreigners.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, July lone great error
into which the majority Of Americans
visiting Europe almost invariably fall
is their belief that every person bearing
nobiliary title necessarily belongs to
the aristocracy, and possesses strain of
blne blood in his veins. This is very far
from being the case. For, paradoxical
though it may appear, there are many
dukes, princes and earls who are pie
beians, while there are numerous IN
titled personages who are aristocrats. In
Spain, for instance there are about 200
dukes, 900 marquesses and several thou
sand counts-none Of their titles, how
ever, carry with them any rights, rank
at court or precedence, and enjoy so lit
tie consideration that there is success
full halter at Madrid who has been Gre
ated duke, retail butcher who has
received the title of marquis, and a pedi
cure, or chiropodist. who he's been made
a count. The real aristocracy of Spain
is limited to 243 grandees, many of them
untitled, but who enjoy innumerable
privileges, including those of remaining
seated and covered in the presence of
royalty, and of access to the sovereign
at all times.
Nothing is moro amusing than to OBJ
serve the punctilious care of these gran
dees to address parvenu dukes, mar
queeses and counts by their titles In
fact, the courtesy is 30 pointed as to al
most become insulting. For among
themselves the grandees never by any
chance make use Of any titles which
they may possess. They merely prefix
the word "Don" to their Christian names.
and address one another as Don" Emilio,
"Don" Fernando or "Dona" Angela
This omission of the use of titles among
the old aristocracy likewise prevails in
France. and especially in Italy. Mrs.
Mackay's Roman son-in-law, for in
stance. would never be spoken to by
equals az Prince" Ferdinand Colonna.
while at Paris the Duke de la Rochefou
cauld or the Princess de Chimay are in
variably addressed by the denizens OF
the noble faubourg as Monsieur" de Ia
Rochefoucauld and as Madame" dc
Chimay.
This species of disdain with which
titles are regarded in Spain, Portugal
Italy and France is mainly attributable
to the facility with which anybody who
wishes can obtain them. In Spain, fol
instance. all that is necessary is to mar
~ some lady with title to her name
In that country the inheritance Of title
is not limited to the males, but is ex
tended to the females as well, who hav'
the curious privilege Of being able t.
transfer to their husbands the title
which they have inherited and which
they possess in their own right. Thu
the Duke of San Lucar, whose feature
are familiar to every American who ha
visited Biarritz during the last fort,
years, and who died few days ago, wa
an Irishman of the name of OShea, VIII
had married girl that had inherited
the dukedom of San Lucar from a bach
elor uncle, and who had transferred i
to her husband. The latter was the Sol
of bankrupt Irish banker and cousi
of the Captain O'Shea of Parnell fame
Granville Murray, the famous jou1
nalist and novelist, likewise acquired hi
title of count from his wife, who had ir
herited it. In Portugal, where all ht
reditary titles have been abolished an
where they are held only for life, it
possible to become duke, marquis, cour
or baron by the payment Of relativel
small sums Of money into the nation,
treasury There are any number {
English and other foreign merchants er
gagged in Portuguese trade who hav
acquired high sounding titles in tn
manner, one Of the best known cas-
being that OF the husband of Tenn
Clahin. who, although merchant Of
Psul's Churchyard, London, has cause
himself to be invested by the Portuguese
monarch with the grand old crusad,
title Of ,Viscount Of Montserrat.
Italy, too, any title can be obtained
tn payment OF money.