The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-08-07

mr. McAIi>tcr Al-o Advocates the rs
Establishment OF o tIerald's Office AS On
of the Government Apartments-Righ
OF Americans to Wear Crests.
The number Of persons using crest
and coats Of arms in this country is yer,
large, and there il no way of ascertain
ing how large it is. The American VIII,
wants coat of arms and has not go
one usually adegss one which pleases hi
eye, without regard to any other consid
erations. Ii England supporters are sci
dom granted with coats of arms to an,
but members of the peerage. But Amer
cans must nave 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 oil
things. Alr. Ward McAllister, the ar.
bitter OF fashion, said it should not be toll.
Grated. Coats of arms, he y 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 30 forth.
II propose" said Mr.. McAllister, "tha,
the American herald's Office should be
established as n of the departments of
h federal government ut Washington,
This is a very practical suggestion. The
government would be able to put a tax
ON armorial bearings and in that way
raise Q large revenue, as the English
government does. 1t il 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 1t. and no one, | think, can
shaT. any good reason against 1t.
al know it is easy for You to assert
thai Americans have ~ business with
coats of rms and such things becafse
they are relics of feuaalism, but that is
nonsense. They are not any more harm
full relics of feudalisln than many of our
social customs. Fashion requires us TO
ASS h@Ai, uL4d I1SulDIl iluSL DS ODtNGQ.
1t is merely a matter of fashion. Aman
with a coat of arms is not likely to be a
more dangerous plutocrat than Q Iich
man without one. Besides, armorial
bearings are Ornamental and look well
on silver and china. That is one of the
best reasons for having tLcn.
Il must say a 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
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 2 coat of arms by paying for ii.
Internationally many younger sons
GENE over to this country who had p
right to bear the arms of their family.
Their descendants settled in different
parts of the Union and are now III 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 a 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 ON interesting
10 be told of the introduc' anecdotes
arms into the gene saon OF coats Of
OF course tn" al society or TINS CITY
lies WI 80 are few New York fam
s. - have used them continuousl.
<ce the creation of the colony, bu
when the practice first became genera
it was received with a good deal of or
position. Gordon Hanersley used t
say that his crest was useful TO tell hiI
which was his carriage. Colonel Thorn.
who married Miss Jauncey, went to E,
rope so years ago and established. hin
self in Paris, living AS 10 other Anne
lean had ever done. He took the BIRTHS
minister through his hotel, who, aft.
viewing its interior and its stable
turned to Colonel Thorne, ~exclailnin
"And you say you do all this on g12,0'
n year! It is marvellous" On retur-
ing to America to live the colonel turn.
out in this city Positions with his CO
OF arms embroidered on the left slee'
Of each position. This created such
rumpus, the population kissing him
he drove by, that he was compelled
withdraw them.
Some of our best people were p
grims and Huguenots, who on reachil
this country and establishing themselv
here abjured such vanities as coats
arms, as a monarchical institution. I'll
was all very well III the beginning, b
the blue laws have faded. We no long
cultivate primitive simplicity, but WI
wealth and age we turn to luxury a
find among its necessities the use of CO
OF arms. The necessity and love of I
American for title OR some designati
Of distinction, plain Mr.. not filing |
BILL Is illustrated IN the west a
south. For so years or more it |
been a universal custom to bestow
military title ON all linen who have ri
above m~ediocrity, such as governor, g
eral, captain, colonel, it being pur
honorary. Such titles men carry throu
life xus4b fh12 Iowa IF a,,ra Far ;rI; vii