The herald., 1894-03-05
SOMETHING ABOUT RANK AND TITLES.

There are an unusual number of the
effete nobility of Europe in California
just now. The newspapers have an
nounced the arrival of the Princess
Colonna and children at the Hotel del
Monte, and, according to tho accounts
given to the press by her brother, the
poor princess has had a hard time of it.
There is nothing in her experiences. as
told by him, to justify American girls In
angling for scions OF European aristoc-
racy for husbands. On the contrary,
there is much of encouragement in the
story of the poor princess. who appears
TO have secured very sorry specimen of
a man, and to have wrecked her life.
Then we learn from the San Francisco
papers that the Prince and Princess
Hatzfeldt have arrived in that city and
are doing the midwinter fair. Accord
ing to a reporter OF the Exsminer, the
royal couple" take great interest in
the fine exposition which grsces the
Sunset City. It might be we'll to re-
mark, in passing, that the term "royal"
is q ridiculous misn0mer as applied to
these worthless. A considerable gap
separates German princellng from the
dignity that doth hedge around 3 throne.
American newspapers are SO fond Of
rolling titles around their tongues that
1t would be holy and wholesome thing
il they were to learn how to grade the
,an,@lo w.shR I'D; osNn al
group as nohlemen. With the average
reporter a knight or Q baronet is 50
noblemsn," as q matter of course. The
fact is that in England the first grade Of
nobility begins with baron, and is in
regular ascending scale viscount, earl,
marquis. duke and prince Of the blood.
Up to duke all these persons are entitled
to be addressed as my lord" or 'your
lordship," until the rank OF duke is
reached, when the alternative form is
my lord duke" or ''your grace" A
prince of the blood ia addressed as
your royal highness." A bishop of the
established charch OF England is a peer,
and is entitled to the designation of
your lordship." An archbishop has
the rank of duke. and is addressed as
''your grace" the archbishop of Canter-
bury ranking Immediately after the
prince OF Wales in all ceremonisIs OF
parliament.
On the continent of Europe titles are
as plentiful as blackberries in an eastern
June. In France titles are purely Of
courtesy, the law recognizing no orders
of nobility. Some practical member OF
the French chamber OF deputies pro-
posed, some years ago, to put all titles
OF nobility on sale, with q graduated
scale OF prices, but his common sense
proposition WAS voted down. In Italy
titles of nobility are for sale, and the
scale Of prices is by no means discourag-
ing to rich man. In Hungary there
are said to be forty thousand barons. and
titles may be purchased by those who
desire to wear them. The number of
princes in Russia is eaid to be bewil
dering, and the title has by no means
the distinction which attaches to
much less high sounding designation in
England.
Titles are going out Of fashion, and
distinguished men no logger care for
them. Edmund Burke was offered the
earldom of Beacons6eld, his country
place, title that WAS Afterwards adopt
ed by Disraeli when he consented to be
ennobled, which he only did on strong
persuasion. William Pitt the younger
made many peers but declined to be-
come a peer himself. John Bright
would not listen to the proposition to be
put into the house OF lords. The latest
instance OF the contempt with which
really great men look upon the mere
tricious distinctions OF rank is in the case
of Mr.. Gladstone, who was recently Of
tered and who declined peersge.
All the Indications in England point
to the speedy abolition of the house of
lords. The handwriting is on the wall.
The Englishman's old love for lord is
passing away. and Thackeray's sarcasm
will soon be without point. 1t lie not go
very long since Robert Burns penned the
immortal sentiment, "the rank ia but the
guinea's stamp, the mans the gold for
a. that" but it has sunk deep into the
minds OF the more civilized nations, and
the beginning of the end is already at
hand for hereditary legislators.