New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-18
vALKYRIE
R.Y. S

Tho ,ri,npuIar niece in the lur Is of dark blue.
while tho Of the flag is OF bright lemon yer
low. The mast and halliards are brown whhe the
little truck is broDzed or git.
The letters X. Y. ). stand, or course LOT the
ROYAL Yacht Squadron. Lord Dunraven belongs 10
many yacht clubs. but for notepaper and other pur
poses utilities only the name Of the re2nant yach'
club OF England. There is something rather pretty
In the idea that every missve which goes over the
side shall fly the private coors OF his snip lt goes
toward illustrating Old English notion that the
home OF the British sailor is aboard his ship In any
foreign waters in which he drops his hook Indeed
this printing Of such stamp on the note-paper Oh
ones yacht IS only a modern and documentary out
come OF an ancient custom. In the old days, "heh
handwriting was almost unknown save to priests
and priest-lawyers and professional scrioes, ana
when even kings and princes had difficulty ana
were in some unable to sign their names
they affixed their seal in attestation or legal oocu
ments Theee seals cut to imprint repre-
sentaton OF the design shown on their shieids
which designs, in Crusade times, and earlier, were
also displayed across the breasts of their long outer
garments. giving rise 10 the word coat-of-arms
But the robber barons of The sea, both Morse and
English who acquired wealth in more or less plrat-
cal excursions. which extended in some cases 10
the Mediterranean chose for their seals represent
tatons Of the dragons heads and other figures
which ornamented the prows OF their small but
abe unlocked vessels The small Viking ship.
which was sailed from Norway to the Chicago
Worlds Fair. had one of these dragon-headed
prows and If Lord Dunraven were living at an ear
Her period his missves would be authenticated In d
somewhat different way. The principle. though. Is
practically the same, and the more modern method
Is none the less interesting because OF It's ancient
origin.
It Will be noticed that in the stamp there no
Roman letters to indicate whether the paper comes
from Valkyrie III or II or lit evidently having
been the intention to make the name Valkyrie al
most family affair, at least representative OF a
lifes effort and to go on building Valkyres until
he won the great yachting trophy. Those whose
minds are inclined toward economy will immediate
~ fly to the idea Of saving money in making one
stamp suffice for lifelong succession Of yachts.
But this kind of work is turned out with such
cheapness In England that perhaps the yachtsman
referred to cannot claim much credit for commend
abe attempt to save money. Plates for mems cards
are engraved in London and supplied together with
100 prints for 3s75 cents the cost in this country
or in Canada being not less than s.. 1t may be
one OF the little yachting whims which often have
merits that the paper shall always be the same
whether 1t comes from Nakyre or Valkyrie Xxx.
And by-the-way 1t may be added. anent the idea
of economy that each of Lord Dunravens yachts
has it's own note-paper This partly shown In
a letter received just prior TO the chaenger's last
departure from England; and the stamp on 1t was
like this: