The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-20
A Craze for Titles.

1T is provided in the fundamental law of
the United States that there shall be no
titles Of nobility conferred by this govern
ment; nevertheless there has long existed
a desire by the select few for some sort of
distinction to elevate them above the
common herd" 1t would not be doing
I violence to accuracy to say that this de-
sire at the present time amounts to moth
ing short of craze. There are mouth
| filling titles on every hand, created by some
fraternal or patriotic order, and new or
CARNATIONS are constantly springing into
existence, and alluring candidates for
membership with gold braid, decorations
and titles-principally titles. Within the
past few months several new organiza-
tons which go beyond patriotism or the
| ordinary fraternal feeling have come into
existence. They come as near to claiming
nobility. and even royalty itself, as it is
possible to do under the laws of this coun-
| try.
To most level-headed Americans the
whole thing appears as the merest fol-de-
rol and poppycock, still 1t is evident that
many OF the persons who are affiliated
with these pinchbeck orders of nobility
take themselves seriously. They consider
that something in the way of rank is alb
solutely necessary, to show that they are
above the level of the masses, and having
money and time to spare, they pay for the
organizations and the functions which are
needed to provide them with the titles
which they desire.
AN incident illustrating the trend of the
times among the people who have more
money and time than they know how to
put to good and proper use occurred in the
city of New York recently, when a woman
bearing the good old Irish name of Demp-
sey was, with great pomp and circum-
stance crowned Queen of the Holland
| Danes of the New Netherlands and the
knights of the Legion of the Crown" The
blowout was held at one of the biggest
hotels of the city, where a drink Of water
and a toothpck cannot be had for much
less than 81 There were maids-in- waiting,
maids of honor, pages, heralds sir knights,
danes of honor and a host of other at
tendants in magnificent trappngs. Every
body present had or was given title and
the coronation of "Queen Lavinia" was
pulled off with the greatest eclat imagina-
Bile. There was footing of trumpets, a
proclamation or two from the throne and
an adjournment to the banquet hall, where
wassai was served in copious quantities to
the subjects of Her Majesty. 1t may be
urged in mitigation of Miss Dempseys
royal Dutch blowout that she paid all of
therefore had the right to call herself a
queen if she liked.
While Queen Lavinias" society is a
step up the ladder of rank above the
Daughters of the Revolution and the CO.
lonial Danes, which are somewhat more
democratic in their aristocrscy, if such
a qualification may be used 1t is still not
quite so high up as another order THE
order of the Crown" which has recently
come into notice. A qualification prerequi-
site to membership in this order is the abiI-
ity to show direct descent from a king.
The members, therefore, are all princes
and princesses really, though passing ages
have rubbed out the titles, which are
sought to be renewed through the medium
| of the organization. A number of Amer
lean men and women are said to have al
ready provided themselves with royal an
cestors in anticipation of becoming iden-
tilted with the order of the Crown. 1t
seems that there is no difficulty in rum
ming ones family history back to a king,
| II one only has the money IN nav for the
services Of a professional family tree build
er. William the Conqueror and Charlie
magne seem TO be the ancestors most ia
Eored. Henry the Eighth. SO far, seems to