Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1893-04-21

A0NOC8le8
tablishment of q Herald's once rs One
of the Governments ApArtments-Right
of Americans to Wear Crssts.
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 1t 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 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
a 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 1t 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.
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 a 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. 1t is one of the hap
piest ways of raising a tax l can think
of, Members of fashionable society and
all the other persons taxed would be
pleased by it, and no one, think, can
show any good reason against 1t.
Il 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 feudahsm, but that is
nonsense. They are not any more harm
ful relics of feudalism than many of our
social customs. Fashion reAuires us to
use them, and fashion must be obeyed.
1t is merely a matter Of fashion. A man
with a 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. It is not neces-
sary that a family should obtain them
by grant from the English or some
other European king. It 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 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 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
to be told of the introduction of coats of
arms into the general society of this city.
OF 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
it was received with 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 Eu.
rope 80 years ago and established him.
self In Paris, living as no other Amer
ican had ever done. He took the British
minister through his hotel, who, after
viewing its interior and its stables.
turned to Colonel Thorne, exclai1ning,
"And you say you do all this ON e12, 600
q yearl 1t 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
rumpus, the population kissing him as
he drove by, that he was compelled to
withdraw them.
Some of our best people were pill
grims and Huguenots, who ON reaching
this country and establishing themselves
here abjured such vanities as coats of
arms, as 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 filing the
bill,' is illustrated in the west and
south. For 90 years or more it has
been a universal custom to bestow a
military title on all men who have risen
above mediocrity, such as governor, gen
sral, captain, colonel, 1t being purely
honorary. Such titles men carry through
life with this love Of ours for individual
distinction, which is one Of our marked
characteristics. When q man wants to
seal his letters, mark his plate or decor
ate his harness, he wants crest, and as
Americans with money own the universe
this crest must be forthcoming. OF
course it is only an accessory to the arms,
and now the question is, How shall Amer
leans get them? And how shall they
Ia ahlo fo koou fhorns