The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-20
ENGLAND'S SOCIAL RUMPUS
BARONESS PROTESTING AGAINST AN
EDICT BIZ THE QUEEN.

narcE,s In~tsrviews-'. Je1reeI's Tower' for
eais-A wow Theory Regarding Golf Cl"hs.
LONDON, Sept. lo.-The grievances Of English
baronots appeal loudly to a sympathetic world
for recognition. A new indignity, tho latest OF
n aad series, has Just been put upon them, ana
although tho snub comes from the Queen her
pelf Il 10 bitterly resented. 1t did not seem so
arievous o thing when 1t was hrst announced.
II was merely an official edict proclaiming that
hereafter the children OF life peers diving or
dead) are to be styled " Honorable" and to take
precedence Immediately after the children OF
barons and before all baronets. But what q
Eumpus this apparently harmless decree has
stirred upi Letters of protest to the Times.
rrayo leaders in the most diRnifed newspapers,
and the talk in court and ether high society cir
cles-well, perhaps tho less said the better about
this last.
1t 10 difficult for plain Americans to take seri-
ously the enormous disturbance which has been
made in English society by what the Standard
polemnly describes as tho institution of n
fresh social rank" Nobody with any sense Of
humor. however. can fail to gain genuine
amusement by noting some of the manifesto
tions Of grief by all those who have been arbi.
trarily crowded down o round or two on the So
cial ladder by this act of Her Most Gracious
Majesty. 1t Is not alone the baronets who are
offended. Every knight is a baronet in prospec-
tive in his own estimate. and there are many
thousands Of aspiring Englishmen, as yet un-
titled, who resent in their hearts this fresh diff
Guilty In the way of realizing their secret am.
billions.
1t 10 not necessary to enter In any detail into
The fearful intricacies Of the rules of precedence
In English society In order to explain the effect
of this new order. Tho life peers, so distinct
from tho hereditary peers. include principally
tho Bishops and High Court Judges. The chill
dren Of these dignitaries have hitherto pos
pessed no title or official social rank. The title
now officially bestowed was often given them by
courtesy, and even the Duke of Norfolk. tho
head Of the Herald's College, addressed them by
Il. Tho title Honorable" 1t should be ex-
plained, attaches to the names of women as we'll
as to those of men in this country when the
designation comes by inheritance. Readers
of English newspapers are especially IA
mriar with the name of the Hon. Miss
Phipps, one OF tho most frequent attend
ants Of the Queen. In the ordinary usages Of
society, however, the title is almost never en-
ployed. The son Of a peer is always introduced
as plain mr. and his calling cards are in
scribed in the snme way. The more high.sound-
Ing but empty word is still employed to some
extent in Ireland and Scotland, but not rs freely
as in the case OF the Scotch landlady who an
swered the knock OF the uncle OF a Scotch peer
come to call upon his niece. Her greeting was:
"No. Honorable Charles; she has gone out with
Honorable John"
About forty persons are said 10 be benefited by
the Queens new edict. The children Of Lord
Chief Justice Russell are among the most prom
inent of tho number. There is certainly some.
thing to be said on behalf of the families OF life
peers, who remain plain Mrs.. Mr.. or Miss. as
the case may be. Some embarrassing misunder.
standings have been known to grow out Of the
lava invidious distinctions. When, for in.
stance, q Scotch Judge, Lord Firth. goes travel.
ling with his wife, the blameless Mrs. Mac.
Gregor, q painful problem is presented some,
times to ignorant, but austere hotel keepers.
But the protests of the discredited baronets
are mono tho less earnest and emphatic. They
have promptly produced q crushing argument
in condemnation Of the Queens action. 1t is ar
argument which 10 usually quito conclusive in
England. namely. precedent. 1t is. they de
clare, o direct infraction of the undertaking
given by James !. when he instituted the baro
notaee, that neither he nor his successors would
ut any time create any dignity whatsoever be
tween tho barons and baronets." Really. II
seems to DO we'll proved that Queen Victoris
has been guilty Of breaking the pledge made
binding upon her by King james. 1t is also re
corded that James I. was very ungallant in hi
refusal to do what the Queen may soon do II
order to make her recent action quite consis
tent. King James, who made the Carries
lords. refused emphaticaIy to max the carlinea
leddies."
The Indignation Of the poor baronets ant
knights hnds expression in language which
while written in most solemn earnest. cannot
fail TO impress a republican reader as deli
ciously absurd. This. for instance, in a letter t.
tho Times, IL q fair sample:
I wonder what the barons would say II tn,
children Of bishops had precedence Of their chill
dren. or the rest Of the peers. If the Lord Chan
cellor's or Lord Chamberlain 5 children suddenl!
rocelyed o now and unprecedented place in thu
social scale.
For many years tho baropetsge has beer
slowly but surely discreditcd. Tho bironet's
position quasi baronet has long been ignored II
state functions. Their ancient privileges hav'
accorded them until the latter part OF the las
century. has long been denied them. and nov
an eaiet has gone forth lowering the order il
Only last year we had an instance of this whel
o baronet's eldest son claimed his knighthoo'
statutes Of the faronetage. the Lord Chamber
lain refused to recognize the validity Of 1.-THE claim
Surely 1t 10 time that the baronots as a bod.
took some steps to protect thor rights and tn
ancient dignity Of their order. They are a pow
% sf1st SSd{ th s1d Viii II Gos esl lnFge st with 9Th t ana al os
}heir honor 70 DO surely 9Ht steadily discounted
u. R-t Vsta Nho "hDNho VIZ NV AIdlIo III
baronets could not have objected; though it i.
think, unprecedented for official rank to con
yey precedence to children. But l cannot thin
that tho baronets will submit to q further In
fraction of tho covenants OF the order withou
striking o blow In their defence.
Sir Somebody, who wrote this l~ettor, woul
feel himself highly outraged II anybody shout
dream Of poking fun at him, and l doubt II an
English reader has seen in 1t anything but
dignihod protest against a great social wron
which threatens tho writer. Tho fuss that
being made over the matter is SO widesprea
that 1t 10 even assuming some political signi
cameo. OF course Lord Salisbury is held respol
sible, and. as the wronged baronets are most
them among his political supporters. the Oh ,nct
arc that moro misery 10 in store for tho h
raised Primo Minister by reason of dissensior
among his followers.
The ~sojourn o Lord Renfrew" at Mariel
bad. now that 1t Ii over. 10 tho subject of a goo
deal Of public interest and m 1t Is r
lated In some detail that Lord Renfrew wake
mp and down tho Colonnade every morning wit