The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-05-20
AMERICANS CRESTS.
WARD M'ALLisTER FAVoRs A TAX
ON COATS OF ARMS.

The ! lnbor Of persons using crests
and coats OF arms in this country is very
large and there is no way of ascertain
ing how lar ,e it is. The American who
wants a CoG, of arms and has not got
one usually adopts one which pleases his
eye, without regard to any other consid-
erahons. In England supporters are sell
dom granted with coats of arms to any
but mombers 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
a coat Of arms with four supporters in
stead Of the two which usually satisfy
English ducal families.
There is, however, n 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, be 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 so forth
81 propose" said Mr. McAllister, chat
the American herald's office should be
established as one Of the departments of
the federal government at Washington.
This is a very practical suggestion. The
government would be able to put a tax
on 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 a tax can think
of. Members of fashionable society and
all the other persons taxed would be
pleased by it, and no one, l think, can
show any good reason against it.
II know it 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.
1t is merely matter of fashion. A man
with coat of arms is not likely to be a
more dangerous plutocrat than a rich
man without one, Besides, armorial
bearings are ornamental and look well
best reasons for having them.
II must say few words as to who has
the right to use them. 1t is not neces-
sary that a family should obtain them
by grant from the English or some
other European king. 1t Is enough
if 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 perfect right to do. These fami-
lies 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
|
arms into the general society of this city.
OF course there are 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 good deal Of op
position. Gordon Hamersley used tC
say that his crest was useful to tell hin
which was his carriage. Colonel Thorne
who married Miss Jauncey, went to Eu
rope 90 years ago and established him
self in Paris, living as no other Amer
minister through his hotel, who, aftel
viewing its interior and its stables
turned to Colonel Thorne, exclaiming
"And you say you do all this on e12 ,00t
yearl 1t 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 a
he drove by, that he was compelled t,
withdraw them.
! "Some of our best people were pill
D grims and Huguenots, who on reaching
this country and establishing themselve
here abjured such vanities as coats o
t arms, as a monarchical institution. Thi
was all very well in the beginning, bu
the blue laws have faded. We no longe
s cultivate primitive simplicity, but wit
wealth and age we turn to luxury an
find among its necessities the use of coat
9 of arms. The necessity and love of tn
4 American for title or some Designation
d of distinction, plain Mr.. not filling tn
3 BILL is illustrated in the west an
south. For 80 years or more 1t ha
= been universal custom to bestow
~ military title on all men who have rise
above mediocrity such as governor, ger
eral, captain, colonel, it being purel
y honorary. Such titles men carry throug
,s life with this love of ours for individut
distinction, which is one of our marke
characteristics. When a man wants I
IT seal his letters, mark his plate or deco
ate his harness, he wants a crest, and {
Americans with money own the univert
40 this crest must be forthcoming. {
" course it is only an accessory TO the arm
De and now the question is, How shall Anne
leans get them2 And how shall the
Is be able to keep them?
IS, Let me repeat that society would we
N N come the establishment of a herald
10 Office for the better regulation Of the
In matters. New York World
x "When you walk" says Russia
es proverb, ''pray once; when you go TO Sc
pray twice; when going to be marie
pray three times"
Vi HAD Manners In the Use of Words.
~ The laws of common courtesy hold
the use Of words as well as dishes.
unconsciously as you turn the handle
the pitcher in passing it should you tn
OF the handle of your sentence and prese
1r- your thought right side up. You wou
sN- not toss the book You are asked for acre
he the floor and leave your brother TO pi
h,s it up. Why toss your answer in simil
\ hit OF miss rudeness?
'od 1t is not rudeness of manner to whi
InnE refer, but the rudeness Of not maxi
do, your sentence at least neat. The m
&C. admirable and atfectionate of persC
will 6ll your ears with thousand ne
est less words that do but conceal tn
An. meaning, or make some noncommit
reply which forces you to repeat yC
question.
A very large part Of the misund
CHI standings in life, with all the sin q
ore sorrow resultant, Is traceable to
uy same carelessness, this stupidity, th
~ inexcusably bad manners, in the use
Axe words.-Charlotte P. Stetson in K