The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-06

barouioe. aud other similar distinctions wero
usually settled strictly according TO primogoni-
ture, tho younger sons transmitting tho noble
nnme and tho fiscal privileges TO their progeny,
but usually without any n~obilinry aflE, except
ing the proposition de, known rs the pd%rticute.
There wore exceptions to this rule. and oven
under tho uncicn regime there wcro instances
Of persons who unddly assumed titles amid tho
crowd Of noble families. necessarily increased
by the nomination to various Offices in the ronlm
and also by purchase. Tho patents comforting
titles under the Restoration limited them in the
line Of primogeniture. but the old dynasty did
not remain long enough on its recovered throne
to enforce conformity with its regulations.
Tho efforts Of Napoleon III. to Introduce
regularity in the bearing Of titles had no OF.
feet, and the Government OF tho Third Republic.
having acted on tho fiction that, under q regime
OF which equality is tho official principle, no
titles can exist, tho widest scope has been given
to private enterprise. Mr.. Bodley considers It
surprising that any obscure people Of indepen-
dent means remain in Franco who have tho
self-restraint not to cndow themselves with
titular advantages, seeing that any French citi-
zen may assume q title with perfect impunity,
ana that It's assumption in time may increase
his own consideration as well MS augment tho
dowrles he may demand for his sons when no
arrnnges their marriages, 1t should further be
observed that, while the Government of the
Third Republic processes not to recognize titles,
yet, in the official lists OF the legislative cham
bers. a member 10 invested with any nobiliary
rank he likes to give himself. There are also
many diplomatic servants o; the republic who
bear titles which are formally confirmed
by their Government In the a~ccredit-
ing Thorn to foreign courts. Moreover, when
the President visits tho provinces in state, he is
accompanied by functionaries Of tho Protocol.
the power which regulates tho ceremonial ETH
quetto OF the republic, some of whom. m tho
official account OF tho solcnnities, are ormally
described "a n%obl6men. The republic. therefore.
cannot rcpudiato Its responsibility. which is
grave, for a renson not often recognized. That
tho multiplication of titles Is obioo-
tlonable on economical as we'll as on social
grounds is demonstrated by tho author Of this
book. who points out that every year 1t increases
a section Of the community which adds nothing
to the resources of the country. while II debases
the national standard Of intelligence. In
the very numerous class claiming nobility.
whether authentic or doubtful. ancient or
modern. Mr.. Bodley cannot cito the names of six
men born in tho latter half of tho century who
are known to fame or are believed to show
promise. The fact is the moro lamcntable as at
~trnctive youths OF this class on leaving school.
before they sink into n pitiful existence OF fu-
tility. from which the profession Of arms seems
to be the only way OF escape, often display in
~telligent qualities which ought to forctoken an
honorable future. All the men of distinction
belonging to noble families are now older than
Napoleon was whom his career was ended. NJ. do
Nun and his colleagues of tho academy, NJ.
d'Haussonville and NJ. dc Vogue. werc all born
before the middle of tho century, and their sue
cossors are not apparent. The policy of the re-
public In keeping out of the public service those
who are suspected of noble lineage is the excuse
pleaded for the useless lives of persons
SO disqualified; but though young men
of gentle birth or pretonsions may. on
account Of their reactionary opinions, have
been prevented from earning n ~pittance in tho
huge army Of functionaries. they have not been
debarrod from paths Of renown in the liberal
professions, In letters or in science. The first
revolution. for from being repressivc in its
after effects upon tho talents of the class which
1t had doposed. seemed. after the reconstruction
of France. to encourage its sons to excel in tho
literary paths which their fathers had less
often trodden In the old days of privilege. Tn.
der the monarchy Of July. when the bourgeoisie
was paramount. half the brilliant names in
every branch Of literature were alleged to be of
noble origin. Chateaubriand, Lamartine, La.
mennais, Remusat. Segur, Barante. Victor
Hugo, Alfred do Musset, Alfred de vigny.
Tocqueville, Balzac, and Montalembert, all
were. or professed to be, members of noble
families. Now, on the other hand. although the
so-called noble class has increased enormously
in proportion to the population. it is extremely
rare for q writer of the first rank to claim con.
nection with 1t.
1t Is Mr.. BodleY's opinion that the failings of
modern French society have nothing in common
with the peculiar shortcomings Of the Ancien
Regime. The superiority OF French society under
tho old monarchy over its degenerate successor
in our own day did not consist merely in its
faculty Of inventing q style and of imprcgnating
the century with its SAVIOR. That society did
not content itself with creating a distinct school
Of art by offering to painters models of gracious
elegance and with furnishing to memoir writer's
the sparkling conversation of a polished court.
1t also displayed n quality which is attainable
by the upper class of any community under any
regime; 1t took delight in the companionship of
the most brilliant intellects of the time.
1t was the age destined to change the
history of mankind; but tho women and
the men who dictated the fashion OF
Europe littlo rocked that the social fabric
which protected them was being subverted by
the philosophers whom they cultivated. 1t was
In salons that tho new doctrine was first re-
hearsed, and in chateaux one day to be sacked by
its forcible application. One may say that tho
buSiCIy VI tuO ciRHbccutu CeutuTy would nave
done better not to encourage the philosopher.
but the modern upper class has not the same ex-
cuse for avoiding m with men of intel
lect. The greatest French intelligenccs of our
age have been anti-revolutionary in tendency.
Renan was tho very type most sought after in
the salons of the old regime. a voltairean of
aristocratic instincts; but the trihing descend.
ants of pilgrims to Ferney, whose modern cleri-
calism docs not restrain them from paying
court to jewish anahciers. disdained to Guilt
vate the historian of the house of Israel. Pas
tour was q sincere Catholic. who brought
more credit on his religion than all his
compatrlots of rank: Taine was tho de.
stroyer of the legend of the Revolution.
Mr.. Bodley regrets the separation of fashion
from intelligence in modern French civilization,
which in this respect has repudiated the tradi-
tions ofthe old regime. The change is attributed
to the motley composition of the s~o-called aristo.
cratic society in our day. The constantly In
creasing crowds Of persons bearing titles of
fantasy naturally seek to consecrate them by