Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-05-19

o1 To w ear Srests.
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 a 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 sci.
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
stead of the two which usually satisfy
English ducal 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 be toll
Grated. Coats of arms, he says, should
be registered at a 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 so forth.
Il propose said Mr.. McAllister, that
established Us one of the departments of
the federal government at Washington.
This is Il very practical suggestion. The
government would be able to put tax
Oh armorial bearings and in that way
raise a large revenue, as the English
government does. 1t Is one of the hap
piest ways Of raising tax l can think
of. Members Of fashionable society and
all the other persons taxed would be
pleased by it, and no one, I think, can
show any good reason against it.
4 know it IS easy for You to assert
that Americans have no business with
coats of arms Hnd such things because
they are relics OF feudalisIn, but that is
nonsense. They are not any moro harm
full relics Of feudalisn than many of our
social customs. Fashion requires Us to
use them, and fashion mast he obcyed.
1t Is merely matter of fashion. \ man
with a coat of arms is not likely to be a
more dangerous piutoGrat than rich
man without one. Besides. arnori2l
bearings are ornamental and look well
on silver and china. That Is one of the
best reasons for having them.
Il must say Il few words as to who has
the right to use them. 1t is not neces-
sary that Il family should obtain them
by grant from the English or some
other European king. 1t is enough
If they have been %sed 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 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 Il perfect right TO do. These faIni-
lies will transmit their arms to their de-
scendants until they become Us interest
ing as those Of aristocratic European
origin.
There are some interesting anecdotes
to be told of the introduction of coats of
arms into the general society of this city.
OF course there are a few New York fam
lilies who have used them continuously
since the creation of the colony. but
when the practice first became general
| it was received with a good deal of op-
position. Gordon Hamersley used to
say that his crest was useful to tell him
which was his carriage. Colonel Thorne,
who married Miss Jauncey, went to Ed
rope 30 years ago and established him
self in Paris, living as no other Amer
lean had ever done. lie took the British
minister through his hotel, who, after
viewing its interior and its stables,
turned 10 Colonel ThOrne, exclaiming
.'And YOU say you do all this on !e12 600
a year. 1t IS marvellous" On return
ing 10 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
runpus, the population kissing him as
he drove BY. that he was compelled to
withdraw them.
Some of our best people were pill
gri1ns and HuguenOts, VINO on reaching
this country and establishing themselves
here abjured such vanities as coats of
arms, as IL monarchical institution. This
was all very well in the beginning, but
the blue laws have faded. We no longer
cultivate primitive simplicity, but with
wealth and age we turn to luxury and
find 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.. not filling the
bill is illustrated in the west and
south. For 90 years or more it has
been universal custom to bestow a
military title ON all men who have risen
above mediocrity, such as governor, gen.
eral. 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 marked