Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1893-05-09
AMERICANS CRESTS.
WARD MALLlsTER FAVoRs A TAX
ON COATS or ARMS.

- Americans 20 Wear Cresta-
The number Of persons using crests
and coats Of arms In this country q very
large, and there Is no way Of ascertain.
ing how large It Is. The American who
wants Coat OF arms and has not got
one usually adopts one which pleases his
eye, without regard TO any other consid-
erations. In England supporters are sell
dom granted with coats Of arms to any
but members Of the peerage. But Amer.
cans must have everything Of the finest,
and therefore they usually take support
ers to themselves. There u one very
rich and famous family in this city.
though Of humble origin, which displays
q coat Of arms with four supporters In.
stead OF the two which usually satisfy
English duaal families.
There Is. however, a great deal Of dis.
satisfaction with this irregular state of
things. Mr.. Ward McAllister, the ar.
bitter Of fashion. said It should not DO toll.
Grated. Coats Of arms, he says. should
be registered at herald's Office, az they
are in England and other well regulated
European countries. Then we should
know who were entitled to them, how
they got them and so forth.
II propose, said Mr.. McAllister, "that
the American heralds Office should be
established as one Of the departments OF
the federal government at Washington.
This is very practical suggestion. Tho
government would be able to put a tax
on armorial bearings and in that way
raise large revenue, as the English
government does. It Is one Of the hap
piest ways Of raising tax / can think
Of. Members Of fashionable society and
all tho other persons taxed would bo
pleased by it, and no one, think. can
show any good reason against it.
II know 1t is easy for you to assers
that Americans have no business Wi.
coats Of arms and such things bccau 9
they are relics Of feudalism, but that IL
nonsense. They are not any moro harm
tul relics of feudalism than many of our
social customs. Fashion requires us to
use them, and fashion must be obeyed.
It is merely a matter of fashion. A man
with a coat Of arms is not likely to be a
more dangerous piutocrat THAI a rich
man without one. Besides, alTnor..l
bearings are ornamental and LOOK wel,
on silver and china. That is one Of t1e
bost reasons for having them.
II must say few words as to who has
the right to use them. Il is not neces-
sary that a family should obtain them
by grant from the English or somo
other European king. Il Is enough
Il they have been used since the be,in.
ming Of the country's history, or for
three generations. In England any re.
spectacle person not in retail trade can
get u coat of arms by paying for it.
'Unquestionably many younger sons
came over to this country who had
right to bear the arms of their family.
Their descendants settled in different
parts Of the Union and are now in thJ
fullest manner entitled to use arms. On
the other hand, many men of wealth and
high BOcial standing. but not Of aristo-
cratic origin, have adopted them since
the practice became fashionable, as they
have perfect right to do. These falni-
lies will transmit their arms to their de-
scendants until they become as interest.
ing as those of aristocratic European
origin.
'"Fhere are some interesting anecdotes
to be told Of the introduction Of coats Ok
arms into the general society of this city.
or course there are few New York fam
lilies who have used them continuously
since the creation Of the colony, bui
when the practice FIRST became general
II was received with a good deal of op-
position. Gordon Hamersley used 10
say that his crest was useful to tell him
which was his carriage. Colonel Thorne,
who married Miss Jauncey. went TO Eu.
rope so years ago and established him.
self in Paris. living as no other Amer.
lean had ever done. He took the British
minister through his hotel, who, after
viewing its interior and its stables.
turned to Colonel Thorne. exclaiming,
And you say you do all this ON GI2, 900
a yeaTl II is marvellous" On return. |
ing TO America TO live the colonel turned
out in this city positions with his coat
Of arms embroidered on the left sleeve
Of each position. This created such a
rumpus, the population Kissing linn az
he drove by, that he was compelled 70
withdraw them.
Some Of our best people were pil. !
grims and HuguenOts, who on reachinl
this country and establishing themselves
here abjured such vanities as coats OF /
arms, as a monarchical institution. T.i5 I
was all very well in the beginning, bus /
the blue laws have faded. We no longer
cultivate primitive simplicity, but with {
wealth and age We turn 70 luxury aud |
dnd among its necessities the use Of coats
Of arms. The necessity and love Of the
American for title or some designation
Of distinction, plain Mr.. 'n0s filling the
bill, Is illustrated In the west aud
south. For 90 years or more 1t has
been a universal custom 70 bestow q
military title on all men who have risen
above mediocrity, such as governor, gen
8ral, captain, colonel, It being purely
honorary. Such titles men carry through
life with this love Of ours for individual
distinction. which Is one Of our mar.led
When a man wants TO
zeal his letters. mark his plate or decor
ate his harness, he wants crest. and Is
Americans with money own the universe
This crest must be forthcoming. OF
course II Is only an accessory to the arms,
and now the question Is. How shall Amer
cans get theIng And how shall they
DO able to keep them?
Let me repeat that society would well
come the establishment OF 4 herald's
'iiice for the better regulation Of these
matters. New York World.
"When you WALL saya q Russian