The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1895-05-25

M. 60
xsouT psoloReEs.
1Ae n1svsgot Apf Exnnpaa, HAY H vers
Dc yesss = Diszslse.
A story In one Of the magazines
about woman named Diver, who
haunted genealogists and experts In
herAltlry until she satisfied herself that
her family name was Dc We're, and i'm
mediately adopted that patriotic patro-
~nymie, affords no end Of amusement ia
paragraphers as illustrating the height
Of absurdity in the quest Of ancestry,
says the Boston Transcript. hut may
not the worthy Mrs Diver have been
justified in her action3 It Is very prob
able that Divver Is . plebeian deform-
ity OF De We're, which time, custom,
carelessness and indifference to de-
scent brought about. Names suffer
Just such mutilations and attrition in
the course of time, and are ground
down to an indistinct sound, losing
edge and accent In the process We
once heard of man who signed his
name Simmer without the slightest
suspicion that genealogy would have
justified him in writing it Seymour.
This very beautiful and euphonius
name is treated with barbarity by
many who bear it, who pronounce Il
Seemore, utterly oblivious thatit cemes
from st. Maur. in which form u d new
written by the duke of Somerset Whose
heir is Lord Seymour. This fem1ly o4
3eymours, by writing the name m IT,
ancient and authentic form, and Con-
serving it's concentration as Seymour
in one Of their titles, undoubtedly are
moved by the purpose of letting the
world know how they would have it
pronounced. Icy are very old
race, associated with st. Maur in Nor
mandy before the Conqueror invaded
England. They are as proud as the
proudest. When Sir Edward Seymour
joined William of Orange at Exeter,
the latter said: II think, Sir Edward,
that you are of the family of the duke
Of Somerset pardon me, sir" said
the aristocrat Of aristocrats, speaking
as the head Of the elder branch, 'sthe
duke OF Somerset is Of my family"
II man or woman in America thinks
it worth the time and trouble to trace
descent in search of an ancestor it is
quite possible that he or she may make
q discovery gratifying to family pride.
Social lines have been much more close
ly drawn in Great britain in the last
two centuries than they were in the
times Of the Plantagenets and the
TudOrs. It was no uncommon thing
four hundred years ago for the sons Of
mobiles to go into trade in association
with men who had made their way
from very humble beginnings. The
sons of country knights were often
glad to be taken into the counting
houses and households Of the rich Lon
don merchants. Marriages often fol-
lowed that united the tradesrnan's fam
lily with old, historic lines. Very kind
~ relations sprang up between the pal
aces and ssthe CITY," Even monarchs
did not disdain to mate with ladies of
no higher rank than simple gentry.
". married Elizabeth Wood
vile, who, though the daughter Of
baron, was the widow of simple
knight when the king, who was always
taken by pretty face, met her. The
mighty Queen Elizabeth had among her
near .kinsfollk on her mothers side some |
good-natured everyday country people
who bore the name of Brown, and who,
when she came to the throne, visited !
London in the expectation Of nepotism.
The great queen was more Tudor
than Brown-by the way, Owen Tudor
himself was but plain Welsh knight
who made a lucky marriage land she
sent her country relatives back with an
that court life was not their
sphere, and with no sinecure to console
hem. DR.. Doran conjectured that the I
slang phrase: Astonishing the
Browns" long in vogue in England,
nay have had it's origin in tliis Incl
lsnt. The Browns were types, for
here was many a plain coun-
~ gentleman who might with genoa
ogical justification 'call the king
1is cousin" All this has changed;
:aste has hedged itself in within the
asst two centuries; classes do not min
yle SO much as they did in the time Of
he Tudors, which is the best period for
Americans to study when in search Of
ancestors. II . lady or gentleman with
J taste for ancestors wants to crafty
t, it Is only an embittered enemy Of
he heraldry Office who win seek to
;hwart the endeavof.