The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-08-22
NEW PEERS FOOT BIG BILLS.
Lord Roberts and Other NoblemeD
Have Been M ulcted Without
Mercy.

English titles are conferred either
directly or indirectly. Directly, when
no third person recommends a candi-
date for royal recognition, and indi-
rectly when third person recon-
mends candidate 8 name forward,
he having good and valid grounds for
doing so.
1t is a very easy matter for the
Prime Minister to distinguish a name
celebrated in politics, science, art, or
literature, and to decide whether the
merits of any given prominent man de-
serve recognition at the hands OF the
King.
Armed with the PERSONS approval,
the Prime Minister now takes the next
step-that is, the obtaining his ma
iesty's sanction, which is never re-
fused.
AS general lule a plain ''Mr. )" is
transformed into "Sir, that is,
knight or baronet-and one who is
already 'Sir: . and has done some
signal service to the state emitting
him to royal recognition, finds his
reward in the ultimate elevation to
the peerage.
The total number of peers is just
under 800, while the baronets exceed
800. and the knights number 1000.
Letters patent accompany the CON
ferring of title on an Individual.
They take the form of royal man
damus, and the issuing of the docu-
ments is costly matter, which has
to be borne by the ennobled; $5, 600 is
practically the amount of the fee a
new knight has to pay for the letters
patent conveying the royal authority.
A baronet's liabilities are about the
same.
When "Mr'' or a "Sir" is adj
vised of the royal intention to elevate
either to the dignity of Baron, the
letters patent conveying the royal
authority carries fee of $780, OF a
Viscount 81, 90; an Earl 81, $50; Il Mar.
quis 81. 500. and Duke 81, 1850
When Lord Roberts was promoted to
the dignity Of an earldom az d reward
for his service in South Africa he had
to forward check for 81, $50 to the
authorities OF the College of Arms for
the parchment confirming his new
title.
But to be tineu 81, $50 for marrying
Princess is harder still. When the
Erie of Fife-as he was then-became
the husband Of the Princess Louise of
Wales, Queen Victoria, at the wed
ding beakfast which followed the hap
by ceremony, drank to the "health of
the Duke of Fife.
That drink cost the semi-royal bride
groom the amount of his letters patent
confirming the dukedom.
It is serious item when man is
made peer Baronets or knights
wear no robes; peers do. A peer 8
robe is made of very fine royal scarlet
cloth, suitably trimmed with ermine
the rank of the wearer being known
by the number of ermine bars which
encircle the upper or shoulder part OF
the robe. A Duke shows four OF
these bars, Marquis three and half,
an Earl three, Viscount two, and
Baron one.
The cost of peers robe varies
somewhat but the average price paio
for a set is about 81, 600.
Coronets-thev are Of silver-gilt, not
Of solid gold-cost from 1926 to $3.50
apiece. :,
The new lord. on being summoned
to the House of Lords, attends. ar
rayed in his official robes, and is intro
duced to the Lord Chancellor and in;
formally to the members Of the House
Of Lords by two peers OF his own rank.
On walking down the floor of the
house the new lord and the two peers
bow three times to the throne, the
obeisance being acknowledged by the
Lord Chancellor, who receives from
the newcomer the letters patent re-
lating to the elevation.
The royal authority Is read as a
matter Of form, and the document is
handed back to the new peer, who,
bowling tremendously again, retires. -
Baltimore Herald.