The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-03
GENEAoLoGY AS A PROFESSION.
New York Lenox Library Great Mine
for the Ancestry Hunters,

IOT luG AlCGolly iibiiSCiSs
1t is no uncommon thing in this year
Of the republic to discover the profess
ional geneaologist who makes comfort
able living by ascertaining for plain
! Americans whether their lines run back
through illustrious lineage or lead to
cul-de-sacs before which curiosity
stands paralyzed. Since the centennial
that prolific source of patriotic societies
an immense impetus has been given to
the natural desire to know whence one
sprang, and "who was who" along the
ages in that stream of blood which
| finds its latest embodiment in the in
quirer. But it is not merely to prove
ones eligibility for membership in such
a society that genealogical enlighten-
ment is craved; the growth of wealth,
! the vast increase in the leisure class,
the contact of this class with Europe,
| its inevitable aspiration to establish a
claim to recognition, based upon the
most powerful "open sesame" namely,
| blood, have contributed much to the de-
| sire in this country for pleasant illu-
mination of ones remote past. More
over historical scholarship is constant
| ly becoming more earnest, pervasive
and real, and geneaology is one of it's
unneglectable fields of research. Final
ly, with flying time and denser popula-
tion come more complex and obscure
property relations, and by no means in
frequently the sole motive of an elab-
crate and costly investigation of de-
scent is to win a litigation and profit
pecuniarily.
There are to-day genealogists galore
in New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
Chicago, Baltimore, Washington and
other large cities" said to-day one who
is prospering in this vocation. 1T is a
delicate matter for one of a craft to
speak critically to the rest, but sound
ethics requires the warming that in this
brotherhood are many-very many
who deserve to be distinguished by quo
tation marks-thus, 'genealogists'- |
not otherwise. Not a few of these are |
thoroughly INSCRIPTIONS; others, per-
haps, mean well,-but are hopelessly in
competent. 1t has seemed TO them an |
easy and independent life to dip into
books in a library, or pour over musty1I
church records report what they find |
or fail TO find, and pocket the fee.
''The qualified genealogist, who pur-
poses building a substantial reputation,
to say nothing of his sense of duty both
to his patrons and himself, knows that |
it is most difficult and trying calling.
requiring infinite patience and indomit-
able perseyerance-sacri indeed |
quite disproportionate to the financial
reward. Think of unearthing a promis-
ing clue after long baf1led search-of
II with yyor,o,iy,er 90 rror,,o.c e.. |
days and weeks-only to find suddenly
that you are on a totally wrong scenti
l tell you, the sincere genealogist feels
at that moment as If collapse were i'm
minent; but it isn'the pulls himself
together and reneWs the attack, and by
that token you know he is the genuine
article.
Some hereditary conceptions are lu-
dicrous in their extravaganza. ] know
of a person not insane who insists upon
descent from Queen Elizabeth Those
who claim Mary Stuart as progenitor
are almost legion. Frequently errone-
Gus contentious are based upon what
resembles evidence If not scrutinized ,
to closely. A remarkable instance was
furnished in the case of man who |
sought ancestors in the American revo-
luton. Research revealed the fact that |
there We're two entirely unrelated |
American soldiers of exactly the same
Christian and family name, both of
whom were killed. and one of whom
were distinguished, while the other was
obscure The latter was the real an
cestor of the inquisitor, but he had ar |
IDENTIFY adopted the former and could
not be persuaded of mistake
The genealogist makes many inter-
asting and surprising discoveries Some !
Of the most Impressive instances can
not be described, because they are of
painful nature and would be instantly 4
recognized by the living whom they Z
Crime, pauperism, ilegiti-
macy are some of the unexpected rela-
ions. Others are simply singular. as Z
ior instance, that in three successive
of a certain family
laughter was burned to death. or that a
n seafaring family several members
we're drowned in ponds and well
streams near home, while none was 4
'ver lost on the ocean,"
The sources of the genealoeist,s
knowledge are both published works Z
ind unpublished records Of the form
II there is now very large number
ind 1t is pertinent to remark that the L
renealOgiSf deDa rfp1ent of tl,a T 49, | II