New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-01
OUEER PREROGATIVES.
x,,cu1,y PRICED PRIVILEGES GRANTED BY
MoNARCHS FOR SPECIAL SERVICES

., ,beir ancestral castles and estates. 1nis Is
sre IN the fact that they are destined, as rule
% commemorate some conspicuous act of loyalty
=. the sovereign some notable service TO the
cote or some feat Of chivalry and as such
boy are beyond the power Of purchase. and
cave 10 distinguish the old-time aristocracy
fror, the mushroom nobility
ord Kincsale the Premier Baron Of ireland,
.bo has lust died at the age OF seventy. although
,or from rich. would sooner have parted with
bic last penny than with the quaint preroga-
two which he possesses In common with Lord
r,,rss,er and the Master Of Trinity College. Cam
h-,dee Of remaining with his hat in the pres
ago of the sovereign. This is a prerogative
which at first sight appears trivial and child
,sh But in medieval days when etiquette
played a far important role than in our
matter Of fact nineteenth century the privilege
Of remaining covered in the presence Of the
monarch was interpreted as an admission by
the latter that he considered the person thus
privileged s his peer his equal and his rela-
tive. Thus. in Spain. the principal prerogatNe
Of the grandees many Of whom are untitled
but who are distinguished from the ordinary
dukes marquises counts and the other inush-
room nobility by the length and purity o' thei'
ancestry. is that OF remaining covered III the
presence OF the monarch. privilege however
OF which they avail themselves only az paruc-
hada" or comforting Of the "grandezza' upon
vounC mobiles who have furnished satisfactory
urnof OF their qualifications regards lineage
and character AT the moment when the neo-
pnyte takes his seat among the grandees, 10
the left OF the throne. he places his hat on his
head in token OF his admission to their ranks.
and his action is at once followed by every
grandee present. who remain with covered head
until he has been tremendously introduced to
each in turn by mis- sponsors.
Moreover 10 show in what high esteem this
privilege OF retaining ones hat ones head
was held in ancient times. need only refer 10
the ancient painting In the picture gallery OF the
French Duke Of Lewis MrepoiX. who prides HIM
self on his descent from Levi. the founder Of the
Jewish tribe of that name The old master rep
resents in thi. painting the Virgin Mary in the
ac, Of addressing one Of the dukes Of Lewis
Mrepoix Of medieval times with the words.
"Couvrez-vOUs mon cousin put on you hat.
my cousin)
A DESCENDANT OF A CHAMPION
Lord Kinssale's ancestor received his privilege
as far back as the twelfth century. when King
John. Of Magma Charta celebrity. conferred IL
upon him and his descendants forever. for hav-
.ng acted as the champion of England in tour
nament that had been arranged for the purpose
Of settling by single combat disputes that had
arisen between that kingdom and France about
the duchy OF Normandy. According TO tradition
the French champion became panic-stricken be-
fore the combat had actually begun, and fed
from the lists. leaving the victory to England
There are sceptics. eminent genealogists among
them who go so far as 10 point out that this
English champion Of King johns cause died
without leaving issue. Put inasmuch as so emf
nent an authority the late Sir Bernard Burke
admits the claim Of the modern lords Of King
h. ~
doughty warrior. Il is not for me to 60 further
into the question. all the more as the privileg"
is sanctioned by usage and tradition.
Another queer privilege possessed by British
peer is that enjoyed by Lord lnchiquin. the only
non-royal person in the United Kingdom VINO
holds the hereditary right Of making use of ths
royal veries for his servants. II was granted 10
the ancestors OF Lord InchiQun, who S the head
OF the Irish house of O'Brien. by King Henry
VIII as compensation" for the O'Brien Of the
day giving up his sovereignty the south OF
Ireland" Until that time the portion Of the
Emerald Isle now known County Clare and
County Cork were designated as 20 Briens |
Country and "Thomond's Country"
One Of the qLantcst Of these privileges Of
an hereditary character is that enjoyed by the /
Spanish dukes Of Hijar, to whose palace at
Madrid IS conveyed Epiphany Day. with /
much state. military pomp and ceremony one /
Of the costumes worn by the sovereign during |
the preceding twelve months. Hundreds Of
years ago a King Of CASTLE lost his way while /
out hunting in the district Of Rivadeo. Knocking
a. the door OF a clttle-herd's hovel. ne begged :
for shelter from the pelting rain and fierce !
storm Ignorant Of his identity The man gave
him not only mis- clothes. but also his he'd and !
food On the the King offered him /
money for his hospitality wheIeupon the herds /
man proudly replied You are noJ a true Cas- .
titan. II you offer your host price for his hos |
pitalitv" SO touched the King by this an /
swer that he insisted taking the man with +
him 20 Madrid. and after having commenced by /
creating him Count Of Rivadeo. promoted him to
the dignity or Duke OF Hijar and conferred upon /
him by decree the hereditary privilege Of re- /
ceiving a suit OF the nonarchs clothes on every
Epiphany Day IN memory Of having surrendered !
his own clothes 20 the King when the latter
sought refuge in hrs hovel. drenched. hungry and
worn out with fatigue.
PRIVILEGE OF WHOLE TOWN.
No one exactly knows the origin OF the time
honored prerogative enjoyed by the natives Of the
Spanish village Of Espinosa who for centuries
have possessed the curious monopoly OF watching
over the sluplbers Of the ruler OF Spain. Every
night at II o'clock the gates OF the Royal Palace
~ Madrid are tremendously closed by gor- |
seouslv appareled functionary armed with an
ancient lantern and huge bundle OF keys and
escorted by servants officers and soldiers ana
from that time forth until O'Clock in the morn
ing when the gates are opened again with SIM
liar ceremony the guardianship OF the interior
% the royal dwelling is confded TO wAat are
known as the MOnteros de Espinosa fAch one
Of them is a pensioned lieutenant or captain OF
the army and while two are stationed IN me
ante-chamber Of the sleeping apartment OF eaCh
member of the royal family, remaining throush-
out the night. not sitting but standing ieahlhe
on their hsberds the others patrol me cor
ridors OF the palace two by two until the morn
ING crossing each other a. every point. never silt
ling down and never utter!ng single word
Remember that this has been going on every
red q