The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-19
THE QUESTION OF LINEAGE.
Hume, of California, Not the Only
One who Can Trace Back to Adam.
, the Editor of the Indianapolis journal:

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
Your article in to-day's Journal describ-
Ing the descent of Robert Deniston Hume,
of San Francisco, through a hundred and
fifty generations from Adam Ga ~well-known
ancestor of horticultural fame) has inter-
ested me exceedingly. The passage of this
bluest blood through the royal veins of
Israel, Ireland. Argyleshire and Scotland.
with the strains of Alfred the Great and
Chariemagne entering the family Incl
dentally, awakens in my own heart a re-
sponsive throb, such as none can feel who
are not themselves of royal and imperial
lineage. l much doubt, Mr.. Editor. whether
you nave ever felt anything like II. But L
Ieel il. for | have come $50 they tell me in
Philadelphia) from the royal house of
Powys, and | would be very grateful TO
you il you can tell me where the devil
this kingdom lies, for l feel drawn to it by
irresistible tics of kindred, and would will
ingly revisit the palace of my ancestors.
MIR. Hume. however. is much i'm error Il
he considers himself the only one who can
trace his descent straight through to
Adam. He may be unique in California, but
there are plenty as good as he is If he Will
only go to Philadelphia to find them 1t
was a lady from that city whom l met not
long ago at a summer watering place who,
speaking OF her family, said with that quiet
gravity which was the best guaranty of
her good faith as we'll as of her good blood
and breeding. that she could trace every
INK In the cndln or Her descent from
Adam the son of God" You will notice
that this lady goes back one generation
further than Mr.. Hume, and this, too, with
out betaking herself to the land of Nod.
And now, Mr.. Editor. since the great
field of heraldry has been opened to us
through the columns of your paper, / want
TO ask you a question. for L assume that
you know cat least you ought to know all
things. When the mediaeval heraids traced
the descent OF their patrons from the kings
OF Israel. the patriarchs. old Father Noah
and Adam himself. they gave us diverse ac-
counts Of the coats of arms formerly worn
by these worthless. With Adam the thing
was comparatively simple, the apple erased
being universally placed upon his shield.
But with Father Noah ! want to know
which of the devices attributed TO him is
authentic. Is II the dove NOlant, or rather
the whole menagerie PEASANT? For myself
/ have always inclined to the latter opin-
have taken various selections from this
mena gerie ii would seem TO me that they
had hardly a right TO do so unless all the
animals had been hlazoned in the shield of
their common ancestor, and i reject as
totally inadmissihle the suggestion that
rampant. surrounded by an ark couchant
and the whole encircled by a grapevine.
However VALUABLE such a device might be
historically lin Derpetuam rel memoriam.'
I. is neither heroic nor heraldic. 1t is true
n whole menagerie requires a pretty large
shield 10 present II adequately. but no
doubt the shields were as much larger in
those days as the term OF human life then
exceeded our threescore years and ten.
Mr.. Editor. your valuable opinion upon
this important point. together with the
reasons for your deduction. would be much
appreciated by your constant subscriber.
Pichuond Ind Nov 70