Gilpin observer., 1901-10-10
CONCEITED TITLES.
MANY OF THOSE CLAIMED ARE NOT
TRUTHFUL.
The Assurance of Some Eastern Rulers
Makes Fabulous Reading-Tremendou
Claims of Earthly Importance Made
! in the Titles of sovere,gns.

Even when King Edward has had
his title SO tinkerdd ID that it will in
ciude the sonorous phrase, king of all
the British dorlinions beyond the
SEAS" he still will not be as well off
in high-soundlng titles as many other
sovereigns. The Sultan of Turkey af-
fects the "style and title" of Com
mander of the Faithful" and the EN-
peror of Morocco is Prince of True
Believers" while the Shah of Persia
and the Emperor of Abyssinia both
call themselves King of Kings" But
these are modest when compared to
the Emperor of China, VINO styles him
se-f Son of Heaven" The Emperor
of Japan has most curious title, be-
Ing styled the Mikado, or Honorable
Gate" Thebaw of Burmah, the wicked
old fellow who was overthrown by
the British, used modestly to call him
sell His Most Glorious, Excellent
Majesty; Lord of the Ishaddan; King
of Elephants; Master of Many White
Elephants; Lord of the Mines of Gold,
Silver, Rubies, Amber and the Noble
Serpentine; Sovereign of the Empire
of Thunaparantha and Tampadipa and
cshci oicaI Luupll co SOuHlIltS,
and of the Umbrella Wearing Chiefs;
Arbiter of Life, the Great Righteous
ness, the Sun-Descended Monarch,
King of Kings, and Possessor of
Boundless Dominions and Supreme
(, Wisdom" For obvious reasons the
modest Thebaw had no visiting cards.
The Amir of Afghanistan calls himself
"The Light of Union and Religion"
The Emperor of Austria is His Apos-
tolic Majesty; the King of Spain,
"His Most Catholic Majesty" and the
Bourbon kings of France were Most
Christian Majesties''-at least in title,
Though they were sometimes quite the
other way in reality. But King Ed
ward need not take back seat when
it comes to religious titles. for is not
that pious man Defender of the
Faith? The King of Portugal is also
possessed of a religious title, being
His Very Faithful Majesty" King
Oscar of Sweden calls himself king
of the Goths and the Wends," and the
German War Lord" calls himself
"Duke of the Wends." The King of
Denmark, like his royal cousin of Swe-
den. calls himself King of the Goths
and the Wends." This is very confus-
ling to an amateur in the king business
and their majesties of Denmark and
Sweden ought to toss up to see who
keeps the title. 1t must make the Sui
tan of Turkey smile to see how many
monarchs. reigning and dethroned, call
themselves King of Jerusalem" This
title is borne by the King of Spain and
<Lx 80 ,t,;n l. h.
bon claimant of the throne of Naples
and the two Sicilies," as well as by
Don Carlos. the claimant of the Span
ish throne. The Sultan calls himself
Servant OF Jerusalem" which Is more
modest, and as he has the city the
other fellows can quarrel over who is
king" thereof. The King of Portugal
has set of titles for private circula-
ton" as it were. in which he espe-
cially delights. calling himself when
he feels particularly "cocky" King
of the African Sea, Lord of Guinea and
of the navigation and commerce of
Ethiopia. Arabia, Persia and India"
Little King Alphonso of Spain, not TO
be outdone by his neighbor, calls him
self King of the East and West In
dies, of India and the Ocean Conti-
nents." The President of the United
States came very near having a title.
When they were fixing up the Consti-
tuition 1t was proposed to insert the
clause. "The President shall be called
His Excellency." Benjamin Franklin
offered an amendment, which read,
"And the Vice President shall be called
His Most Superhuous Highness." In
the latter which followed the title
clause was lost