New-York tribune., 1902-04-22
RULES OF PRECEDENCE.
THE VARIOUS GRADES OF RANK AS DE-
FINED by AN ENGLISH WRITER.

FIN ED by AN ENJIlSh w hlIEh
"A recent important marriage has given rise to
doubt and discussion with regard to titles and rules
of precedence says The Ladies Field Now
this is in it self somewhat singular fact. For, in
good truth. there is question at all on the sub
ject; such rules these not capricous or un-
certain. they incontrovertible facts: indeed.
they the law Of the land. But those who do
not belong by right of birth or marriage to the
titled classes possessed with the idea that
precedence is a mere question of taste. and that
take relinquish ones rank accord
ing the fancy of the moment to the changing
circumstances of life.
such is not the case The daughters of dukes
possess very high rank; in fact, they precede
countesses. If a dukes daughter marry peer.
her rank is once merged in that Of her hus-
band, and by this means. although she gains the
position OF a married woman and peeress. she
often experiences deep drop in actual rank. Lady
Wimborne Is a In point She was a dukes
daughter-Lady Cornelia Spencer Churchill-and in
marrying lost nine degrees of rank through becom-
ing a baroness AT the time of her marriage this
the case, for in those days Lord VIM
borne had not been raised 10 the peerage. and was
a baronet-Sir Ivor Guest-his wife. In consequence
retaining her maiden rank and styling herself
Lady Cornelia Guest. But in 1880 Sir Ivor was en-
nobled. and the couple became Lord and Lady
wimborne Another in point is afforded by
Lady Amabel Kerr. She earl's daughter,
the daughter Of a former Lord Cowper and she
married Admiral Lord Walter Kerr, who was
marquis's younger SON. Now. ner rank as an
earls daughter Is higher than that OF her hus-
md, and she therefore calls herself Lady Amabel
Kerr. and refrans from styling herself Lady
Walter Kerr.
Gases of this sort numerous and. as usual
with everything mundane. there are a few excep-
tfons to prove the rule. Lady Milton is one OF
these; her legal title and description is Lady Maud
Milton but from the time of her marriage onward
she has elected to style herself Lady Milton. A
eeress in her right retains her rank and name
irrespective OF marriage. as in the case OF Lau!
Crouartie and Major Blunt If she married d peer
of lower rank than herself she would keep her own
name and precedence. But If her husband were
peer Of higher rank she would take his title and
rise TO his position A modern example OF TINS is
Lady Marlborough. who is in her own right BARI
oness Conyers The manner in which this lady signs
her name when writing a note may De OF III
forest She writes M Marlborough cher Chris
tian name is Marcia and underneath puts the sig
nature -Conyers.
"A few words NAV be said the broad outlines
Of the rules Of precedence Daughters of peers and
baronets are reckoned to rank immedlatcIy after
n, zi,-ee of their eldest brothers. Peers and peer
esses take rank among themselves as follows: %
of England. ~ OF Scotland, 90 Of Great britain
40 OF Ireland 90 Of the United Kingdom shce lhe
Ac; of Union in 1900 Their precedence among
themselves is in strict accordance with the dates
Of ,be;r respcctiye patents of nobility. A favorte
fal,acy among those not well Informed is that age
acts as a chief factor in deciding the Tlghts Oh
nrecedence This is not So duke OF seventeen
Zoos bofore a duke of seventy If the young dukes
neerage dates further back than that OF his aged
t,ro,bnr r,eer The same rule applies to every de-
gree in the peerage, and to the baronetage as Wei
a very few people have dim idea in their minds
that wealth and worldly position AFFECT TINS purh
inP question Of precedence. Needless 10 say, thlS
is NOT the case Wealth is beside the question ana
social precedence is one OF the le" Remaining
things that money cannot buy: ,-,,oo,,o-s o
WIDOWS o6 peean co,,rnsv o titIcs only continue by
oF Enpi ia
rat ain their title and precedence. At the coming
rornnation widows Of peers who have remarked
in the manner described not invited to be pres
ent Indeed for some years past these ioI,s ,S l.
peeresses but only under the style and name OF
their present bush rfen 70 Fdr nxampe Elizabeth
Countess OF Wilton. who is now married TO NJ MI
rooms as Lady Elizabeth Pryor which was her
lawful name, as the daughter OF an earl r'r'ieu
10 The wives Of younger sons of dukes and mar
guses; eS often to retain their former title and
precedence which vas sraneed ,hem by An me honor
able exception this rather foolish custom has
arisen N oV West who once bore the name Lady
Randolph Churchill American hGu'ieh d {g,ien {b ore re-
While on this subject IT may be mentioned that
rritted. by social custom. to retain shaooWy
sembiance Of rank. With renarriage the courtesy sX
discrepancy has been afforded by the regulatlon
Continues TO hold her title by legal right and not
by social courtesy only
precedence of wives Of existing peers and baro,
IatS from, their being senior in the dignity. and
from, their husbands having been nearer the sue
ceesion For example. at the coronation Dora
Countess of Chesterfield will take precedence of
the rrfgning countess. and for the reason given
..Some people are puzzled by the fact that wives
NJ great ecceeastics and of great ofcers OF state
derive no definite rank precedence by virtue or
nj exceedingly high position of their husbands
And IN certainly anomaly that the VIE
~ an Archbishop of Canterbury, who himself
Comes after ROYALTY and before dukes. should nave
IN society only the position of an ordinary gentle
mo,nan But so II IS and the wives of bishops. OF
,be high sherins of counties. of judges gain no
g,,a ,,,fe Of 4 yiceroy even. or OF Governor Gen
I-aI ~ canada has no OF rank on account
r The fact tha. her husband represents his sover-
oicn In those distant dominions. But events prove
49, certain few Of these ladies are not them
Lice aware of this accepted but highly incon-
sa,,,e,+ fact Two advantages are. however. theirs
80 life One is they entitled to the entree
-. -. court and the other that they have right to
-. on what is known the banc de duchesses at
beii or concert at Buckingham Palace
.Ona noint should always be remembered-name-
l.. ,baf II is mans rank that confers prece-
ti.,,ea no precedence Is accorded to either women
" ,oe, by virtue of a mothers rank, unless In
deed that mother holds the exceptional honor or
benr a peeress in her own right
W. Al such questions those dealt with above
30 lot matters of Of opinion. They
a., the law Of England which. like that of the Oft
o,,o,ea Medes and Persians. altereth not