The herald., 1893-05-07
AMERICANS CRESTS.
WARD MALLlsTER FAvoR9 A TAX
ON COATS OF ARMS.

of Americans to Wear Crests.
The number OF persons using crests
and coats Of arms in this country is very
large, and there IL no way of ascertain
ing how lnrge 1t is. The American who
wants O coat of arms and has not got
one usually adopts ono 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
coat OF arms with four supporters in
stead Of the two which usually satisfy
English ducal families.
There is, however, great deal of dis
satisfaction with this irregular state Of
things. Mr.. Ward McAllister, the ar
bitter Of fashion, said IL 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. McAllister, "that
The American herald's office should bo
established as one Of the departments of
the federal government at Washington
This is very practical suggestion. The
government would DO able to put a tax
on armorial behring's and in that way
raise a large revenue, as the English
government does. It Is one of the hap
piest ways Of raising tax I can think
of. Members Of fashionable society and
all the other persons taxed would be
pleased by II, and no one, think, can
show any good reason against it,
II know 1t is easy for you to assert
that Americans have no business with
coats of arms and such things because
they arc 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 matter of fashion. A man
with q coat Of arms is not likely to be a
more dangerous plutocrat than o rich
man without one. Besides, armorial
bearings are ornamental and look we'll
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 neces-
sary that family should obtain them
by grant from the English or some
other European king. 1t is enough
IL they have been used since the begin
ming of tho 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 q
right to bear tho 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 mon 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 aIistocratic European
origin. aafe
"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 flew 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 OPP
l laN1r,,a ,,c1J 10
say that his crest was useful to tell him
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
ican had ever done. He took theBritish
minister through bis hotel, who, after
viewing its interior and its stables,
turned to Colonel Thorne, exclaiming,
"And you say you do oil this on Sig, goo
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 a
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 a monarohical institution. This
was all very we'll 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.. mot filing the
bill,' is illustrated in the west and
south. For 80 years or moro it has
been universal custom to bestow a
military title on all men who have risen
above medioority, such as governor, gen
eral, captain, colonel, it 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 man wants to
seal his letters, mark his plate or decor
ate his harness, he wants a crest, and as
Americans with money own the universe
this crest must be forthcoming. OK
course it is only an accessory to the arms,
and now the question is, How shall Amer
leans get them9 And how shall they
be able to keep them?
"Let me repeat that society would wei
come the eStahlishment of a herald's