The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-12
CARRIE CARELESS.
CHATS ABOUT WOMBN'5 TASTE
FOR HERALDRY.

in a Heraldic Way in New York"
Says of American Observation-Disclosures
OF Thousands of Families In Great
Britain Who Have Assumed the
Arms Of Gentle Families"
(Copvriohtl
NEW YORK, June IA graduate of
the London Herald's College," who is a
relative and pupil of Sir Bernard Burke
and who, according to his own account.
docs big business in the heraldic way In
New York" has been recently holding up
his American customers to British ridicule
in the London press. This Is all the more
reprehensible on his own part, since he ad-
mlts himself that most of his patrons are
ladies. The ignorance OF the latter ON the
suoIect OF armorial bearings he describes as.
'agonizing," and publisher in the English
newspapers the most extraordinary and i'm
probable stories, concerning our heraldic
tastes and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES that of
course are calculated to present US In a very
ludicrous aspect to the oountrymen of this
courteous, grateful and chivalrous "rela-
tive of Sir Bernard Burke"
l am perfectly prepared to admit that
there are many among US whose tastes run
in the direction of heraldry, and who are
fond OF seeing armorial bearings on their
carriage panels, on their servants livery
buttons and on their plate. But these are
tastes that are by no means restricted to
American women, as "Sir Bernard Burke's
relative" would have one to believe. Thew
prevail TO far greater extent in the old
world, and instead Of being confined TO our
sex, constitute subject OF much concern
and interest to men as we'll
In Europe. and espec tally In England as
soon as ever person Of plebian origin has
succeeded in amassing sd fficient amount of
money to enable him TO assume positfon in
society-society as distinct from the petty
tradesmen, the farmer and the working
classes-he Immediately proceeds to aiopr
armorlaI bearings as an outward and visible
manifestation of the fact that he now be-
longs TO the gentry. Sometimes he applies
TO the Heralds College In London, state
department, where In return for a fes of
$4OO he is able to obtain a government grant
OF arms in due form, which thence
forth remains the property of him
sell and OF his Legitimate descend
ants. In most cases. however
the "nouveu riche." dispenses with the
costly assistance of the Herald's College,
and coolly adopts whichever heraIdic device
strikes his fancy among those submitted for
his approval by the stationer where he pur-
chases his note paper, or by the tailor who
builds" his servants liveries According
to an essay by the famous genealogist,
Cough, in recent number of the Scottish
ReUtetO, there are tens and even hundreds
OF thousands Of persons in Great Britain
who are guilty OF the unauthorized assump-
tion OF the arms of gentle families. - while
IN France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium.
Holland, indeed, everywhere on the CONT
nent, save, perhaps, in some of the small
German sovereignties, similar state of af-
fairs prevails.
Before, therefore, commencing to ridicule
our heraldic aspirations and our unauthor-
lied assumption Of armorial bearings that
do not belong to US, our European critics
and scoffers would do well to look at home.
For according to the published assertions of
their most eminent authorities on the SUBJ
Ject OF heraldry the people in the old world
are far more open to reproach In the
matter than those of the new.
While 1t is easy to understand the eager
ness displayed by newly enriched people to
adopt armorial bearings, since the use of
the latter has from time immemorial been
regarded as the outward aud visible indica-
ton of gentility, have always wished that
women here should devote their attention
TO selecting appropriate notices for Them
selves rather than heraldic devices, There
is something so much more feminine, more
than IN coat Of arms. 1t gives a clew to
the personality of the owner. In France
notices are all the rage, and there is
scarcely single well-known Parisienne,
either of the great world the smart world
or the half world who has not got her
motto which figures to the exclusion of the
ordinary armorial bearings on her note
paper, on her o6jets de toilette, and even
upon the panels Of her carriages.
Thus, for instance, the Duchess de La
d-Doudeauville, who is a
daughter of the late Prince de Ligne and
the grandest lady in France, being to all
intents and purposes the autocrat of the
Fauoourg st. German society, has on her
note paper no coat OF arms but merely the
ducal coronet with, underneath on q scroll,
her motto, "C'est mon plaisir." cit is my
pleasure.'O
Very characteristic and significant Is the
motto adopted by the Comtesse de Paris
the consort of the chief of the ancient royai
house of Bourbon, the pretender to the
| throne OF France. 1t is in Latin, and is as
follows; "Lilia nent atque laborant." ctThe
! lilies spin and toil.'1 The lilies play an i'm
portanb role in the bourbon coat of arms
indeed they constitute the heraldic emblem
of that royal family; the altered and sad
dened condition of the latter being indi-
Gated by the countess paraphrsse of the
scriptural verse TO the effect that the Lilies
! neither toll nor SPIN"
The Comtesse de Martel, who has achieved
| such brilliant success in the literary world
| under the pseudonym Of "Gyp,n which has
become synonymous for everything that is
sparkling and bright in French literature.
has selected for her motto the words: "Et
puts apresp c'Well, and what thenP0
Mime. Adam, the well-known proprietress
of the NOuUeLLe Revue at Paris, who has
frequently appeared as a contributor in the
pages of the North American Reuieto. has
| adopted paraphrase OF the famous motto
OF the noble family OF Rohan. The latter
runs: 'Roi ne puts, prince ne daigne,
Rohan suis." Il can't be king, 1 am too
proud to be mere prince, but l am a
Rohan.) This Nine. Adam has transferred
into motto of her own as follows: Marie
ne puts, Eve ne daigne, Adam suis."
Yvette Guilbert, the cafe chautant song
stress, whose vogue at Paris during the past
two years has been superior to that of any
| other cantatrice, has adopted as her motto;
''Nulle divette, qu' Yvette." c'There is no
other diva but Yvette.")
Sarah Bernhardt's indomitable character
| Is well shown in her motto Of "Quaud
meme," which may be translated as:
Notwithstanding everything
Another equally popular French actress.
Rejane, uses as her motto the phrase ''Je ne
Grains que CO que jaime" ("I only fear
that which l loYe.m
1t seems to me that American women
might with advantage adopt this pretty
fad, which has now become so prevalent
among our French sisters. A motto has