The morning call., 1893-09-23
TITLES FOR SALE.

When the constitution was adopted,
American citizens were for hidden TO accept
foreign titles, and few Americans, like
the Ramseys, the Sterlings and the Fair
taxes, who were entitled to wear handles
to their names, dropped them. OF late
years the growth of wealth and ostenta-
tion has generated European notions in
this country, and every now and then some
one who has made fortune aspires to be
man of title. For the benefit of such
aspirants, it may be interesting to repro
duce from recent American traveller s
Investigations tile rules which must be
followed by America rs who want to be
titled. The power of Europe from which
titles can be most easily bonght is the re-
public OF San Marine. San Marine has a
regular tariff; you pay your money, which
goes TO the support Of a founding hospi-
tai. and you are Count, Baron. Marquis,
Duke or Prince as you choose.
1t is impossible TO buy openly a title of
nobility from England, Germany. Italy,
Spain or Portugal. But in all of them, a
man of merit, who is wealthy and is pre-
pared to pay the registration fee. or to lay
the Government under pecuniary obliga-
ton, can generally enter the ranks of the
nobility. The thing is done differently in
the various countries. In England a man
who subscribes literally to an electoral
campaign fund establishes claim on the
party which. if he desires, the Minister
will requte with a barouetcY or an earl
dom, when the party comes into power. 1T
was thus that Sir 4. Maple and Lord
Brassey got their titles. The honors were
not actually sold. but it amounted TO the
same thing. In Spain, Italy and Portugal,
the Governments do not make merchandise
of patents Of nobility. But one who has
established claims TO distinction, no mat
ter what his nationality, may generally be
ennob led in either country by agreeing TO
pay the registration fees, which are $4,000
for Duke, S15. coo for Prince. $4,000 for
a Marquis. $4,000 for a Count, $1,000 for a
Baron.
In Germany. the law Of adoption is ill.,
voked by the ambitious. The sons Of a
German Graf or Baron all take the family
title; and they need not be to the honor
born. When Berlin or Amsterdam mer-
chant makes fortune and wants TO be
enGobled, he picks out a young impecuui-
Gus sprig of genuine aristocracy, and gets
himself adopted. Thus. 10 The ranks of
the haute fuance in Berlin, it is common
10 find gray-headed old men who are the
adopted sons OF young officers Outrageous;
the law recognizes their right to wear the
title which the adoption confers; they
constitute the fnanzadel, or financial
arIsIOcracy.
1t is thus seen that no American who
has money need deny himself the luxury
of handle to his name. There was a
time when an American did not need to
cross The ocean 10 get title. Patents of
nobility were issued by the Emperor
Faustin l of Hayti, as well as by his pre-
deeessOr Soulaque; by the Emperor Maxi
milan of Mexico. who created a towns
man of ours Duke Of Sonora; and by the
lamented King Kamehameha of the
Hawaiian Isla But a perverse and
stiff-necked generation refused to pay due
respect to these American titles; their
wearers came to be little ashamed of
them. The better course of Californian
millionaire who wants to take rank with
the great ones of The earth is to get some
German Baron whose income all told is
about $500 year to adopt him as his son.
This will entItle him TO enter every draw
ing-room in Europe before the untitled
multitude; and while bis action is con-
Irary to the law of this country, no one
has ever been been able to find out how
an American Duke or Baron could be made
to suffer for his title.