The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-29
ANCESTRY ANDHERALDRY.

The craze for hera1dic insignia has been
carried to lud1crous extreme by an in-3
nunnerablo horde OF snobs in the United
etetes, where no laws regulate and pro-
tee. the practice. as they do, for In
stance, in Great Britain. It Is as serious
thing in England for a man or woman
70 assume armory as It IS for one to
ASSUME a name. Indeed, arms end names
ore BE inseparable and almost synomous
over there among the gentry as the COM
mopers' trademarks arc inseparable
q om the wares they manufacture. In
the days when Sir Reginald or Sir Will
fred rode out encased in armor the dis
play Of tho device on his shield or the
shaking out Of his standard was as good
as shouting his name to oil who saw 1t,
and the crest on his helmet gave cogniz-i
anoo Of his rank to peasant as well as
prince. In the garb Of peace his badge
was worn by himself and all his family
and clients.
These insignia. adopted Of their own
right by the early chiefs and mobiles. were
afterwards monopolized by the Sovereign
ana were confirmed or bestowed by him
with all other patents of rank within his
saze7ainty. They were made hereditary
with the estate and title of their owner.
Descendants who established collateral
branches Of the family were obliged to.
ADOPT 8 modification OF the arms OF the
original house. The rigid rules Of the
to- LOT
and protect the system in England and
her dependencies. and they are enforced
to-day. Hence heraldry means something
over there, while It's meaning over here
has been rendered comparatively NIL by
the ridiculous assumptions OF the nouveau
rich and misguided descendants OF some
few noble houses.
In Virginia there ere scores Of families
entitled to coats Of arms. but even some
Of the virginians have been led by the
fake heraldry manufacturers Of New
York and elsewhere into the most glar-
ing errors and Inconsistencies. We have
in mind q county family whose pedigree
is clear and clean back to one Of the
bcIdest lieutenants Of William the Con-
qut-or, and whose unquestionable herald
ic Inheritance is almost the simplest es-
cLtcheon and crest to be found in the
peersge. In the original the shield is
not even quartered. yet a silly offshoot
Of the family, whose mother married
North, engaged New York ensraver to
mako him a coat Of arms in which there
are quantities of quarterings. to none Of
Which he has any right whatever. along
With royal supporters and a ducal he'll
mot, altogether foreign to the rank of
his respectable ancestors in Buckingham
shi, and Somerset. The scroll and motto,
too, were similarly assumed. Indeed, the
whole thing is a disgusting fabrication,
beside which the elaborate hotel coat
of arms Is an example of modesty. To
cap the climax. the Yankee herald
faced the animal on the crest towards
the right, instead Of the left, and laid
metal on metal and color on color, against
all rules Of emblazonry.
!. If vain. undemocratic people want to
adopt some sort of badge or cognizance
to distinguish their families, they should
do go through the patent Office or some
such registering place IN Washington,
but for the sake of historical accuracy
ara the preservation of family honors,
all people really entitled to coats of
arms. Virginians especially, should do
their best TO protect the ancient institu-.
ton of neraldry from false pretensions of
every description.