Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-11-05
AEEoDoTkI LITERATURE.
Contributed to the Independent
by w. G..
TITLES.

1t is curious to Notice the absurd
and ridiculous titles which despots
have created and claimed for them.
selves. In the third and fourth ages
Of Rome, the emperors styled them
selves riiviuities. In 404 the follow
ing Lass OF Arcadius and Honorius
wNs published.
Let the officers of the palace be
warned to abstain from frequenting
tumuituous meeting ; and that those
who, instigated by sacrileeious
temerity, dare to oppose the author
ity of our divinity. shall be depriv-
ed Of their employ ments, and their
estates conGscated." When the sons
speak of their fathers, it is "Their
father of divine memory" or divine
fathers. They call their own laws,
oracles. Their subjects also address
them by the titles of-your Perpet-
uity-your Eternity. The emper.
ors, as appears from law of Theo.
dore the Great, added, "If any mag
istrate, after having concluded q
public work, put his name rather
than that of our Perpetuity, let him
be judged guilty of high treason"
The principal officers of the en-
pire of Mexico were distinguished
by the odd titles Of Princes OF un-
erring javalins; Hackers OF men. and
Drinkers of blood. The king of
Monomotapa is adulated by his fiat.
terers as Lord OF the sun and moon;
Great Magician, etc. The king Of
Arracan is styled Emperor of ARA
can; Possessor of the white elephant,
and the two earrings; Lord of the
twelve provinces of Bengal. His
majesty Of Ava is called God.
When he writes TO foreign sover
eign, he calls himself the king Of
kings, whom all others should obey.
Four and twenty umbrellas are al.
ways carried before him as a mark
of his dignity.
The titles of the king of Achem
are singular, but too numerous to
mention all. He is called the SOW
ereign of the universe, whose body
is luminous as the sun, whom God
created such, whose eyes glitter like
a star, a king as spiritual as ball is
round, who, when he rises shades all
his people, from under whose feet a
sweet odor is waited, etc. The king
of Persia is honored with The poeti-
cal appellations OF "The Branch of
Honor, the Mirror of Virtue and the
Rose of Delight.
The title of Illustrious was not
given till the reign of Constantine,
except in those whose reputation was
splendid in arms or letters. But
this title at length became too COM
mon to carry any significance. For
merly the title of nighness was only
given to kings, but now it has be-
come so common that all great
houses assume il. Ferdinand, king
Of ArragOn, and his queen Isabella,
Of CASTLE, were only treated with
the title OF highness. Charles was
the first who took that of majesty.
1t was Francis / who began to give
him this last title in their interview
10 the year 1920.
So distinct were once the titles Of
highness and excellence, that when
Don Juan, the brother OF Philip IL D.,
was permitted to take up the latter
title, and the city of Grenada salut-
ed him by the title of highness, it oc.
easioned some serious jealousy at
court; and had be persisted in it, he
would probably have been condemn
ed for treason.
After these historical notices re-
specting titles, the reader will prob.
ably smile, when he is acquainted
with the reason of an honest curate
of Monsterratt, who refused to be-
stow the title of highness on the
duke of Mantova, because he found
in his breviary these words: "Tu
solus Dominus, tn solus altissimus;"
from all which he concluded, that
none but the Lord was to be honor
ed with the title of highness!