The record-union., 1897-11-15
THE FRENCH ARISTOCRACY.
How Some Plebeian Names Attain
ed to the Patrician Degree.

Under the Government of July, ana
also when the Second Empire came,
many of the old families We're ayerse
to Antering the diplomatic service,
where their names would have been a
pledge of welcome abroad Resort was
therefore had to what are called IN
France hommeS re carriere. These had
not, and could not have any other au-
thority than their talents gave them.
This was not enough either for the
ovarnment or them. They We're there
fore made barons and counts. Some Of
them acquired their titles from foreign
Governments The Court of Rome,
while not prodigal, rarely refused to
grant a title of count when asked for
it. Several French charges d'affaires,
and even ambassadors, get their SEM
blance of nobility from Rome. Some
still exist which had no other origin.
The operation was at the time render
ed awkward by the too plebeian form
of the name. No change pas de nom
qui veut but with little smartnesS
and the help of the Chancellor's office
the difficulty could be got over. If the
name began with De, which is the
particle indicative of nobility, it was an
easy matter, the only thing necessary
being the separation of the initial syl-
liable from the rest of the name. For
instance, NJ. Delamare became M. de
Lamare; NJ. Delestrade was trans
formed into NJ. de Lestrade, and NJ
Dervilley signed "D'Ervilley" But the
operation became a little more trouble
some when the name was a very COM
monplace one, such as Durand. Reg
nault, or Dupont. In that case the
name of a town or a political division
was added, and the gentleman called
himself Dupont de fEure or de Ne
mours; Regnault de Saint-Jean dan
gely; Durand de Romorantin, and so
forth.
When no name of a town or village
was available the would-be nobleman
applied for permission to add his moth
er's maiden name to his own especially
if it had an aristocratic sound. In this
way certain ambassador, whose fam
lily name was a. ridiculous one, but
whose mothers name though plebeian
was easy to disguise. dropped by de-
grees his own name and retained only
the maternal appellation, just prefix
ing the particle de and the title OF
baron conferred on him under the EN-
pire. In the elevated circle in which
he moves, thanks to his intelligence
and superior education, no one suspects
that bis real name. if he went by it,
would associate him more intimately
with kitchens than with diplomatic sal
ons.
\ fair idea can be formed of French
society as it exists to-day A tenth
part at most, consists of old families
that have survived the revolutions, and
who live generally in retirement, far
from the busy, noisy world Many
have placed their sons in the army,
and a number cultivate their land.
some of them with an energy worthy
of being initiated by professional farm
ers. Nearly all their names can be
found in the list of the Agricultural
Society of France, mingled in equal
proportion with the names of the men
most esteemed in scientific agriculture.
Threetenths at least belong to what
is called la noblesse de la contrebande,
while another tenth are connected with
the higher liberal professions litera-
ture. The sciences, pure and applied. the
different classes of the institute. and
| the upper professorships. The remain
ing half consists partly of politicians.
many of whom have held office. and
partly Of great financiers. a large num-
ber of whom are of foreign origin.
!. some of them occupying, owing to their
i intelligence, their wise conduct. their
generosity, or the circumspection they
display in their delicate position very
high place in public esteem.
Such are the elements forming French
society at the present time. 1t has no
pronounced vices, little pride. enough
vanity not to care to be caught in
fault. a sufficiently moderate thirst for
pleasure to allow others, sprung from
the ranks, to take the lead, fairly broad
principles, measured convictions. ele-
waited judgment in matters of taste and
| intellect. love of country that has
nothing narrow about it. and. TO crown
all, a charity so beneficent so efffca-
cious that slanderous tongues attribute
1t to selfish desire to satisfy oneself
IN helping others. For our part we look
upon this kind of egotism as being
equal 10 virtue.-Nineteent Cent1rv
The fact that rheumatism is caused
by morbid condition of the blood. ex-
plain the success of Hoods Sarsaparilla
in curing this disease. 1t ne,Itralizes
acidity and purifies the blood.