The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-09
NOW Is THE TIME TO BUY.
STARS, CARRIERS, AND OTHER DECO
RATIONS At DEALERS PRICES.
a European rrice Iist OF Royal Decorations
which Agents Promise TO Obtain In Ex-
change for Coin-court Honors Advertised
Mt Figures Ranging from $40 to 1900

- AFNA y NNNV hhAN ~ hN'INA WV
which Agents Promise TO obtain In Exc
change for C~oin-court Ionors Advertised
ut Figures Ranging from SEQ to $4,000.
AS regularly as tho buds burst Untcr den
Linden and An der Prater, tho Prince funds his
debts and tho Archduohess q~uarrels with her
husband, come tho familiar spring circulars OF
the German. Austrian, and Swiss dealers in
titles and decorations. No procession OF Conti-
mental seasons would be complete without those
circulars. They arc us much n part OF tho course
of life in Europe as arc the spring reviews and
fall manGuvrcs, the Cabinet crises and royal
visits, tho emigration OF tho poor to this country
and the immigration OF the rich to the Continent.
Not even the English estate with American heirs
seems to have established u better right TO de-
lude mankind periodically than has tho star or
cross advertised for sale in tho capitals OF central
Europe. II is worth MENTIONING, however, that
not all these advertised stars and crosses are
myths. Occasionally one crosses the Atlantic
unexpectedly and without proper provocation
lands in the lap of an obscure American. Per-
haps these circulars have something to do
with these unexpected happenings; perhaps not;
there's the mystery.
The prospectus of the dealer in titles-dealer 10
n courtesy title-is busincsslikc and calculated
to deceive him whose views of life may DO
summed up In the columns OF daybook or ledger.
There Is no superfious verbiage about VOhigs-
boren, Acknowledgment, majesty" best
circles" high nobility" or sacred precincts
of the throne" These old catch penny devices.
copied from the court columns of tho newspapers,
went out of style fifteen years ago. To-day the
circular Is wordcd SO ms to appeal to the man
from Chicago or the woman from Leadvillc. The
style is MS direct and practical rs that of q pork
packers circular. Hero is a specimen copied
from the circular Of q dealer who holds forth his
dazzling wares regularly to excite the cupidity
of tufthuntcrs In Vienna, Berlin, Budapest, and
Rome.
DEAR SIR: Allow me q moment Of your
time that | may correct the impression, held
doubtless by you in common with many others,
that the inclosed price list is proof conclusive
that decorations arc bought and sold by me-.
The mistake can DO made plain in n few words.
Every body knows that only reigning Princes
can confer decorations. Everybody knows also
that a sovereign cannot be personally acquaint-
cd with all whom he honors. His choice can be
directed to n certain extent by outside infu-
enccs. 1t is due to this fact that, after years Of
strict honesty and discretion in all my dealings.
1 am able to obtain certain decorations by
means OF the influences indicated. 1 may men,
ton that one way of ~enlisting these influences
is to give u considerable sum to military or
charitable objects.
The best proof of my integrity and the surest
guarantee Of my fulhlment OF all obligations
that l undertake. arc to be found in the fact
that demand no advance payments from my
patrons. | require merely that my patrons have
their payments guaranteed by II trustworthy
business house. For twenty years have con.
Quoted my business through such n house and
upon application can put you in n position 10
obtain full details regarding my trustworthi-
ness
ton the honesty of my business methods: cspe-
cially, after | have given the guarantee that. in
case fail to obtain a certain decoration for n
patron. l charge him nothing for my trouble.
With this explanation ! send you, in strict con;
tidCncc. the inCloscd price list which. with full
faith in your honor and discretion, l request
You to Keep secret.
Papal Decorations Orders of st. Gregory. st.
Sylvester, and Christ. and Order of the Holy
scpulchre: knights cross. $500; commanders
San Marino-Oricr OF Kniehthood: knights
cross, 500; officers cross, $500: commanders
Tunis-Nischan oil Iftekar order: knights
cross. $3.50; officers cross, $500; commanders
P~ersla-Ordcrs OF the Sun and Lion: knights
cross, 800; commanders cross, 81 200.
Turkeyaoordcr of the Medjid;iS; knights
Spain-Orders of Charles III. and Isabella tho
Catholic: knights cross. $500. commanders
class. with stnr. 81 500. The neck hand Of the
Isabella is like that of the Prussian Order OF the
Portusai-orders of Christ and villa vicosa:
knights cross. 81 900; commanders cross with
star. S 1000. Neckband Of the Christ like that
OF the French Legion Of Honor.
Italy-order Of the Crown: knights cross,
s~ervin-;Tnkowa Order: knights cross. $3.50;
commanders cross, $3.50.
Roumania-star OF Roumania-Knight's cross.
Observation-Disclosures or'rr: knights cross.
$500; officers Gross, $82. commanders cross,
$3.50; grand commanders cross. 81 1000.
L~ibcria-Ordre de la Redemption: Officers
Cross. S4DO.
Austria-Knight,s Cross Of the Order Of the
Iron Crown, s15' 9ooi Marianne Cross Of the
ration. but very desirable. tho order being under
the patrons Q Of the Emperor. $500. This cross
men and ladies OF the nobility only. 1t resem-
bles closely the Iron Cross OF Prussia
spcetod and popular order in a certain German
State, $3.50. Also, crosses of orders in various
other German States. There are many other
cant is requested, therefore. to specify which
German decoration he most desires:
All OF the above.namod decorations como in
class !. of the catalogue. Glass ii. includes the
titles OF Baron. Count, and the minor nobility.
ahesf }tsie sn Hfe cost ae b IS U .soo fS si p5 200 3" a E@Fope Am
inferior patent of nobility may be obtained.
however, from any one Of several Italian cities.
~title-,Italian city style-may be had for $500.
In class III. sre the titles Of Court PTTrySy9}r,
lor, Hygienic Councillor, and Commercial Coun-
cillor. In class ~. are enumerated the degrees
conferred by certain Scientlnc, artistic, COM
mercial and agricultural societies and schools.
The range Of prices in both classes, is between
$50 and $3.50: In, class v. are tho Consulships;
which. with their business titles, are scheduled
at 81, $50 each.
1t Viii be observed that tho bedrock prices are
for such titles ms 'priyy councillor" court
councillor" &c. These titles are so common In
Germany and Austria that 1t is said n respecta-
BILE man can escape them only BY "A disposition OF
Providence. sickness, or sudden death. The
price list. however, seems to disprovc the saying,
as, according to it, n man can escape by not hav.
ing 500 or 800, u condition In which only too
many respectable residents Of central Europe
to any what it costs to BIO y real prlvy council
ior" or real court councillor This Is regret.
table, as by simply listing these. last-named
titles he could have solved n puzzling problem.
II has long been q question just what the differ;
ence between IA court councillor and a real
court councillor" was. Doubtless many IA German
upon first CHANGING at this list has thought he
was about to learn in dollars and cents the exact
extent OF the difference, but he has been doomed
to disappointment. Perhaps the advertiser
makes no difference in price between the two;
perhaps he thought the ponit too fine to be mado
In a dragnet circular; perhaps he does not deal
in real things at all. In any event he leaves tho
-. AN p.n ttnul