The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1893-06-22
Pieche Weekly Record.
onqciaI Paper OF Lincoln Co.
AMERICANS CRESTS.
NARp M'ALLIsTER FAvoRS A TAX
ON COATS OF ARMS.

Mr.. McAllister Also Advocates the Es.
tablishment of q Herald's ONCE as One
or the Government Apartments-Righ
Of Americas to Wear Crests.
The number of persons using crests
and coats Of arms in this country is 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 is one very
rich and famous family in this city,
though Of humble origin, which displays
coat Of arms with four supporters in.
atead of the two which usually satisfy
English ducal families.
There is, however, q great deal of dis
satisfaction with this irregular state OF
things. Mr.. Ward McAllister, the ar
bitter of fashion, said 1t should not be toll
Grated. Coats Of arms, he says, should
be registered at herald's Office, as they
are in England and other well regulated
European countries. Then we should
know who were entitled to them, how
they got them and 30 forth.
II propose" said Mr.. McAllister, ''that
the, American herald's Office should be
established as one Of the departments Of
the federal government at Washington.
This is very practical suggestion. The
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 the other persons taxed would be
pleased by 1t, and no one, I think, can
chow any good reason against it.
II know 1t is easy for you to assert
that Americans have no business with
coats Of arms and such things because
they are relics Of feudalism, but that is
nonsense. They are not any more harm
full relics Of feudalism than many Of our
social customs. Fashion requires us to
use them, and fashion must be obeyed.
u is merely matter Of fashion. A man
with coat Of arms is not likely to be a
more dangerous plutocrat than rich
man without one. Besides, armorial
bearings are ornamental and look well
on silver and china. That Is one of the
best reasons for having them.
~ must say few words as to who has
the right to use them. II is not neces-
sary that family should obtain them
by grant from the English or some
other European king. 1t is enough
II they have been used since the begin
ming Of the country's history, or for
three generations. In England any re-
spectacle person not in retail trade can
get a coat of arms by paying for it.
''Unquestionably many younger sons
came over to this country who had a
right to bear the arms of their family.
Their descendants settled in different
parts Of the Union and are now in the
fullest manner entitled to use arms. On
the other hand, many men Of wealth and
high social standing, but not of aristo.
cratic origin, have adopted them since
the practice became fashionable, as they
have q perfect right to do These fami-
Hes will transmit their arms to their de-
scendants until they become as interest
ing as those Of aristocratic European
origin.
There are some interesting anecdotes
70 be told Of the introduction Of coats Of
arms into the general society Of this city.
"a course there are few New York fam
lies who have used them continuously
since the creation Of the colony, but
when the practice first became general
Il wac received with good deal Of OPP
position. Gordon Hamersley used to
nay that his crest was useful to tell him
which was his carriage. Colonel Thorne,
who married Miss Jauncey, went to Eu.
rope 80 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 e1~90l
yearl It is marvellous" On return
ing to America to live the colonel turned
out In this city positions with his Goa
Of arms embroidered on the left sleev,
Of each position. This created such
rumpus, the population kissing him o
he drove by, that he was compelled t
withdraw them.
'sSome Of our best people were pill
grims and Huguenots, who on reaching
this country and establishing themselve
here abjured such vanities as coats Q
arms, ~ monarchical institution. Thi
was all very well in the beginning, bu
the blue laws have faded. We no longe
cultivate primitive simplicity, but wit
wealth and age we turn to luxury AM
find among it's necessities the use of coat
of arms. The necessity and love of tn
American for title or some designation
Of distinction, plain Mr.. mot filling TIL
bill,'- is illustrated in the west an,
south. For so years or more it ha
been q universal custom to bestow
military title on all men who have risel
above mediocrity, such as governor, gen
sral, captain, colonel, it being purel,
honorary. Such titles men carry through
life with this love of ours for individual
distinction, which is one Of our marke.
characteristics. When man wants I,
seal his letters, mark his plate or decor
ate his harness, he wants q crest, and q
Americans with money own the univers
this crest must be forthcoming. Q
IL