The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-11
TITLED NEGROES.
Have Been Knighted by European
SOVereiEns.

Have Been Knighted by Europeans
SOvereigns.
From the Boston Transcript.
There have many negroes in Europe and
the West Endies who have received dis
tinguished considerations in the way OF
decorations from the crowned heads Of
the Old World. The Black Roscius-I-a
Aldridge-who created such a Juror in
Europe many years ago as a tragedian,
and who was frequently carried from the
theaters in which he performed upon the
shoulders of his enthusiastic auditors to
his hotel, was loaded down with medals,
the insignlas OF various royal orders, the
gifts Of kings and queens whom he had
charmed and delighted by his magnificent
representations OF the characters he as
sumed.
Aldrdge was Il Maryland negro, and first
went to Europe some time in the forties in
the capacity Of valet to a disting pushed
American tragedian, who discovering his
talents and bent OF mind, encouraged him
to become an actor. He performed in the
principal cities Of Europe, and IL is record
ed Of him that when ne played IagO in
the city of Moscow, in Russia, a number
Of students who had witnessed the per-
Torrance unhitched the horses from the
actors carriage after the play was over
and dragged him IN triumph to his
lodgings. In Sweden and Germany and
England his name was,a household word.
He stood in the front rank among the
greatest actors of his day, and the nobility
Of Europe held him in the same regard and
treated him with the same consideration
that Americans bestow upon Keeue or
Barrett or Booth or any other great actor
who has made himself famous. Ira Al
bridge gave no performances in Europe
which were not witnessed by one or more
members of the royal family of the
country he was in. He had large. lustrous
eyes, and resonant voice which he Kept
under perfect control.
Aaron in Titus Andronicus" and as the
Moor in "Othello." he established his fame
as the most realistic actor who up to
that period ever essayed those roles The
newspapers Of that period showered I'M
stinted praise upon this remarkable ne
gro, and he was liohized in fashionable
society and feted by the nobility; the King
of Sweden knighted him. and the En-
perOr of Russia conferred "A decoration
upon him. His medals and decora lions
from other personages were estimated at
the time of his death, 1867 to be worth
over $4,000. Aldridge owned nine villas
situated in various parts of Europe, and
each of them handsomely furnished. His
principal residence was In the city of Lon
0gAA Lbs AAAAAa MiAtAt ne entertained III "a
royal manner the legions OF friends vino
sought his company and that OF his charm
ing wife, a Swedish baroness, by whom
he had three children. He died in 1867 as
Sir Ira Aldridge, K. c. M, and a host Of
other titles given him at VARIOUS times.
Queen Victoria has recently coRferred
the Victoria cross upon a coal black ne
gro, corporal in one of the West India
regiments, for having saved the life of his
commanding officer by throwing himself
in front of the latter and receiving in his
own body the bullets that would have
/ otherwise found Judgment in that of his
captain. Peter Salem did something like
this during our revolutionary war.
In 1873 or 1879 the President Of the Re
public Of Liberia conferred upon the
American minister, the Hon. John II
Smyth, in consideration of friendly SER
vices to the republic the title of knight
of the Order of African Redemption"
In letter dated at the Palace Of Mad
rid, Feb. II, 1882, King Alfonso of Spain
writes to the President of Liberia as fol
lows:
f"Great and Good Friend: Desiring tc
give you public testimony of my royal
appreciation and my particular esteem, ]
have had special pleasure in nominating
you knight of the Grand Cross of the
Royal Order of Isabel the Catholic am
pleased by this action also to furnish new
proof of the desire which animates me to
strengthen more and more the friendly
relations which happily exist between
Spain and the republic of Liberia And
with this motive ] repeat to you the as.
surance of the affection which / entertain
toward you, and with which / am, great
and good friend, your great and good
friend. Alfonso"
palace of Madrid, Feb. II, 1889.
There are few better lawyers anywhere
than Ia hr
blacks of the British West Indies The at
torney seneral of the Island Of Jamaica
some years ago was a negro, by name
Burke, who was said to be as eloquent oil
| speech as his great Irish nameSake. Ed,
mund Burke, who, it will be remembered
said on one occasion, Great men are the
| guide posts of a great nation" The black
| Burke was famed not alone for his ora,
tory, but for the soundness of his lega
/ judgment and the fairness of his decisions
/ while acting as attorney general He was
knighted some years ago by Queen Vic.
| toria.
| In Freetown. Sierra Leone, there live.
very ordinary-looking little black mar
/ who has the regular negro features ant
! hair Like the immortal Richard III. be
| shrugs his shoulders when he walks. bu
| unlike him, he does not sing out, "Shint
! on, bright SUM- etc. He is Sir Samue
! Lewis, and was knighted by Queen Vic.
1 toria about four or five years ago He Is
! one of the ablest lawyers in Sierra Leone
and represents the interests of some of tn,
wealthiest firms in England. Sir Samue
was recently offered by a firm in Londor
| 5000 per annum to locate in that city anC
1 attend TO its legal business, but he de-
/ clined the offer, preferring to remain
among his people in Sierra Leone, with
whom he is a great favorite
| The lord chief justice of Trinidad, w. L.
! Sir Conrad Reeves, is a negro scholar anC
a cultured and refined gentleman, upor
| whom Queen Victoria some years ago con
| ferred the order of knighthood; he is {
! X. G. As lord chief justice of Trinidad h,
wears the wig and flowing robes witt