The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-05-15
TITLED NEGROES.
Members of the Black Race Knighted
by European SOvereigns.

From the Boston Evening Transcript
There have been many negroes In Eu-
rope and the West Indies who have re-
ceived distinguished considerations in the
way Of decorations from the crowned
heads of the Old World. The Black Ros-
cius-Ira Aldridge-who created such
Juror in Europe many years ago as TRACE
dian, 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 insignias of various royal
orders, the gifts Of kings and queens whom
he had charmed and delighted by his mag
niticent impersonations Of the characters
he assumed.
Aldridge was a Maryland negro. a an q
first went to Europe some time IN the
forties in the capacity of valet to dlstln-
guished American tragedian, who, dlscoV-
ering his talents and bent OF mind, en-
formed in the principal cities Of Europe,
and it is recorded of him that when ne
played Iago in the city of Moscow IN Rus
STA, a number OF students VINO had WIZ VIZ
horses from the actors carriage after the
play was over, and dragged him IN tri-
umph to to- his odsndsSsi s IN name Was house
hold word. He stood in the front RANK
among the greatest actors OF MS DAY, anu
the nobility OF europe NEG aim MI - me me
same Reconsideration that Americans be-
stow upon keene OF Barrett or Booth, OF
any other great scs1r dr Who mas sy a ne per-
formances in Europe which were not VII
messed by one or more members OF the
royal family OF the country ne was a;,, ~;
full, round face. He was nearly six feet IN
height. He had large, lustrous eyes ana
resonant voice. which ne kept unoer per-
AS As Aaron In Titus Andronicus" and as
the Moor in "Othello," he established ms
| fame as the most realistic actor who up
The newspapers Of that period showered
| unstinted praise upon this remarkable
negro, and he was lionized In fashiona aia
society and feted by the nobility; the KING
! of Sweden knighted him, and the Emperor
| of Russia conferred a decoration upon him.
| His medals and decorations from otnsr
personages were estimated at the sll LIN 10 OF
his death. 1857. to be worth over S2o9' o9o;
| Aidridge owned nine villas situated IN
| various parts of Europe, and each OF them
| handsomely furnished. His principal res
he Entertained in a royal manner the
! legions of friends who sought his com
pany and that Of his charming wire.
Swedish by Whom a b. nae ara ads
ridge, X. C. M, and host OF other titles
| given him at various times.
Queen Victoria has recently conferred
negro. a corporal in one Of the West India
regiments, for having saved the life Of
| his commanding officer by throwing him
| self in front of the latter and receiving IN
| his own body the bullets that would have
| otherwise found Judgment In that or ms
captain. Peter Salem did something IKE
| this during our Revolutionary war.
| In 1878 or 1879 the president OF the re-
public of Liberia conferred upon the
| American minister, the Hon. John H.
| Smyth, in consideration Of friendly ser.
ot ess e or ras r 81 Asrcan @
In letter dated at the Palace OF Mad.
rid, February II, 1882. King ALFONSO OF
| Spain writes to the president OF Liberia
Great and Good Friend: Desiring to
give you a public testimony Of my royal
| appreciation and my particular esteem.
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
| friendly rela tons which happily exist be-
tween Spain and the republic Of Liberia.
And with this motive / repeat to you the
| tain toward you, and with which am,
great and good FRIEND your g EpNsn and
so'o Palace Palace of Madrid. February ii. 1852.
| There are few better lawyers anywhere
than are to be found among the educated
blacks of the British West Indies. The at
| torney general of the Island OF Jamaica
some years ago was a negro. by name
Burke. who was said to be as eloquent OF
| speech and as formidable in argument as
| his great Irish namesake, Edmund Burke
who, it will be remembered, said on one
occasion, Great men are the guide posts
Of a nation" The black Burke was famed
not alone for his oratory, but for the sound.
ness of his legal judgment and the fairness
| of his decisions, while acting as attorney
| general. He was knighted some years age
BY Queen Victoria.
| In Freetown. Sierra Leone. there lives a
| very ordinary-looking little black man.
who has the regular negro features am
| hair In stature he is less than five feet in
| height. Like the immortal Richard III.
he shrugs his shoulders when he walks
| but, unlike him, he does not sing out
''Shine on, bright SUM- &c. He is Sir Sam
uel Lewis. and was knighted by Queer
| Victoria about four or five years ago. He
is one of the ablest lawyers in Sierra
some of the wealthiest firms in England
Sir Samuel was recently offered by firm
| in London 5000 per annum to locate In
| that city and attend to its legal business
| but he declined the offer, preferring to re-
main among his people in Sierra Leone
with whom he is q great fayorite:
The lord chief justice of Trinidad, w. l.
| a cultured and refined gentleman, upon
whom Queen Victoria some years ago con
! ferred the order of knighthood; he is a *
| G. AS lord chief justice OF Trinidad ne
wears the wig and flowing robes with
lowly grace and dignity. For many years
he was Queens counsel. He Is greatly es::
| termed for his urbanity, his learning ano
| his great ability as a lawyer. He Is one OF
| the most polished and finished gentlemen
| at the English bar. His name is the Syno
| nyme for probity and integrity, He Is q
| man of great wealth.