Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-01

itsm to a limited number Of great arIslo-
cratic houses. The petite nobesse was leyt
HEsaushed and immense sums due them
went astray by misappropration. Then
came the democratic revolution Of $50
aimed ostensibiy NJ the encroachments II
Inc higher privileged aristocrats Louis
fLilippe's government had scarce come
iiio Office when Il sought to strike them a
decisive blow. Almost its first ACT yss -,
suppress what remained OF the credit Of
S-hNo,Hp and 10 decl ee. not the supprcs-
SON OF aristocratic utles, but their free use
by any one who cared 10 assume them.
French Love for Noble Nnmr.
1t was supposed that such a breaking
down Of all barriers would bring contempt
upon the aristocrats Instead II only
served to show the love Of Frenchmen far
a noble name Those who had long been
yearning after n title but had not received
one, either from the empire or the restora-
ton, saw their opportunity. First, the eN-
unct titles under the empire were revived.
These had at least an appearance Of lecit!-
macy. Many a purchaser of an old chateau
adopted its name without ceremony. and
others bought chateauN 10 initiate their
neighbOrs. Names Of landed properties vi
lagos and towns were assumed. So that in
less than eighteen years the number OF no.
bic names In France Increased from 20e'n
TO 100000. Yet Louis Philippe conferred
no titles during his reign, while under Ma
poleon nearly all the titles conferred were
F'AStllhl anu not nRre1ltarN. IneN were
afterward made hereditary by the holders
themselves. Their sons have even multi
piled the countships and baronies The
baron dies. and all his sons are baruns.
with the revolution Of 1913 titles ceased
! to be recognized. II was even proposed TO
| do away with the Legion ~ Honor. as a
toy OF vanity hut as its end was the &C
cesslon Of Napoleon III the aristocratIc
as ever.
4 short FIT of Zeal.
Napoleon III did not dare TO strike i'm
nediately at 50 important faction as this
self-made nobility, sn.epu strong and !ntu-
entail in all parts OF France Yet IN spite
Of his caution and good nature he dld not
forget to introduce a Iittlc order into III,
registers, where obhging officials had yy-
corded fanciful names "de's'' possnss,.1
only in ina Gination. and the latest novel;
ties in titles. The minister whose depart-
ment was concerned ISSUED a severe t.t-,.fl-
lar, which was transmitted to the regis
lrarS OF every commune In France Aw4k-
ing from their indifference, the authorities
set 10 work 10 Top OF the usurped titles
This nj OF zeal lasted few years. many
Judgments were rendered. and the scandal
caused ny these decisions. which affected
more than 30 Oop Unauthorized titles trr.,f-
ened to compromise the reviving empire
Terror spread among the portion OF society
concerned From north. south. east and
west came complaints and Dfiurga- Inus
The government felt In danger from, M
people who had most ioyfully welcomed
us advent II became necessary to nol,.r-
ate the zeal Of the officials who wer.. on
the road To demolish French society. Tn.
famous circular was hidden away in :,
Piseonhole, and as soon as il was believed
10 be a dead letter the little game OF in
venting titles was resumed. and has con-
unued ever since.
UecoGnfzeJ by the Propte
The French people are now living under
republic. The DEGREES Of Ronapart.. tb,.
acts of the government Of Louis Philippa
and the circular orders of Napoleon III
have no validity as laws. but their effects
upon the people have neen lasting. The r.
pubIlc mas been thirty years in power Vet
there are more noble names in France To-
cay than at any other time within "A hllr-
dred Years The law does hot recnrfIiz.
these titles. But the people rcroEnfze them
again and again during the last twenty
years there have been decisions analogous
TO that given at Marseilles. II is very sig
nlhcant, therefore, that the present cas-.
Should cause SO great a controversy. II
mas been the theory Of the republic Ike
that OF the government Of Louis Philippe,
TO make light of titles by permitting anv
citizen to take them up at will. Is the
theory now to be proved in the wrong
Are free institutions in danger, and are the
people Of France again craving for a titled
aristocracy? STERLING HEILFCi