Evening journal., 1893-04-21
AMERICANS CRESIS.
WARD MALLlsTER FAvoRs A TAX
ON COATS or ARMS.

OF Americans TO wear NFtetes
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 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 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.. McAllistor, "that
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 tax
on armorial bearings and in that way
raise a large revenue, as the English
government does. Il 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 it, and no one, think, can
show any good reason against it.
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 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
It is merely a matter Of fashion. Aman
with q 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
on silver and china. That is one of the
best reasons for having them
II must say few words as to who has
the right to use them. It is not noces-
sary that 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 genera lions. In England any re-
spectacle person not in retail trade can
get q coat Of arms by paying for it.
.'Unquestiunahly many younger sons
came over 20 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 tn,
fullest manner entitled 10 use arms. OI
the other haiyl many men of wealth anl
high social standing but not Of aristo
cratic origin, have adopted them since
the practice became fashionable, as thc5
have q perfect right 10 do These fami
lies viii transmit their arms to their de
scendants until they become as interest
ing as those Of aristocratic European
origin.
"There are some interesting anecdote
to be told of the introduction Of coats o.
arms into the general society of this city
OF course there are afew New York fam
lies who have used them cOntinuousl,
since she creation of the colony bu
when the practice first became genera
it was received with a good deal of op
position. Gordon Hamersley used q
say that his crest was useful to tell hin
which was his carriage. Colonel Thone
who married Miss Jauncey, went to Eu
rope so years ago and established him
self in Paris, living as no other Amer
ican had ever done. He took the BIRTHS
minister through his hotel. who, afte
viewing its interior and its stable.
turned TO Colonel Thorne, exclaiminl
sAnd you say you do all this on ei2,0O
yearl 1t is marvellous On return
ing to America to live the colonel tune
out in this city positions with his Goa
of arms embroidered on the left slcoy
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 pi
grlms and kuguenOts, who on reachll
this country and establishing themselv
here abjured such vauiues as coats
arms, as a monarchical Institution Tn
was all very wei in the beginning, bi
the blue laws have faded. Sye no long
cultivate primitive simplicity, but Wi
wealth and age we turn to luxury an
find among its necessities the use of Goa
of arms. The necessity and love of d
American for title or some designati,
Of distinction, plain Mr.. not filing Il
bill. is illustrated in the west al
south. For 90 years or more it b
been o universal custom TO bestow
military title on all men who have ris
above mediocrity, such as governor, ge
eral, captain, colonel, it being pure
honorary. Such titles men carry throu.
life with this love Of ours for individu
distinction, which is one OF our mark
characteristic. When a man wants
seal his letters, mark his plate or decg
ate his harness, he wants crest, and
Americans with money own the uniyel
this crest must be Forthcoming.
<.orraa II Is only en accessory To the arm