Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-04-02
III LACKED NOVELTY
A COLLECTION OF HElRLooMs THAT
WeARlEo AN OBSERVER.

GLORY and supplying Ancestral
Trappings Mt So Much Per Hour
Has It's Drawbacks.
Two guests were being shown through
q Philadelphia mansion In which a
nouveau richie broker was entertaining
q party Of fashionable friends. The
splendid array Of family helrlooms. all
b~espeaking a lineage OF earliest colo
NAL origin, deeply impressed one Of the
party. He was a stranger but lately
arrived from Baltimore. oddly enough.
his companion, a Philadelphian. SEEM
ed fippantly Indifferent to these treas
ured relics Of a famIly's honored his
tory.
Remarkable collection Of helrlooms
our host has" remarked the stranger
as he stopped before a battle SCARED
sword Of Revolutionary days.
"Yes," drawled the Philadelphian
cynically. Every interesting. But IN
fortunately II lacks the charm of nov
city for me. Already this season I've
seer the same batch OF relics in three
other Philadelphia houses"
How could that ber'
"Oh. simple enough. II only means
That all four families. our host and the
three others I refer to, hired their an
cestral trapplngs from the same man."
"Hired themT'
Eyes, hired them. We have In this
city IN enterprising collector OF colo.
NAL junk who makes a business OF
renting out family glory to all who
were unfortunate enough to be born
without It."
"Wheww was the only comment the
~astonished Baltimorean could utter.
And doubtless many Philadelphians
would be moved to say "Wheww II
they could learn how many members
of the Quaker City social elect are con-
strained to seek the assistance Of the
heirloom dealer when they wish to
give a brilliant function.
1t Is a deception that is forced upon
them, for unless you have distinguish.
cd appearing forbears you stand little
chance Of penetrating the sacred pre-
cincts Of the local fashionable set.
Ancestry. not cash, Is the open ses'
anne. and even II a man can claim some
sort of a family tree his p~retensions are
questioned unless he can show some OF
the furniture or portraits that his
American forefather brought with him
on the Mayfiower or the Welcome.
OF course II the two vessels named
had been as large rs the Great Eastern
and had been loaded with nothing but
heirlooms they couldn't have carried
half the stock needed to launch the de.
scendants Of Pilgrim fathers into 80
ciety. Hence the need Of an heirloom
dealer.
He has his warerooms In Pine street,
In a part Of the city which was once
the center Of fashion. but Is now de.
serted by that element In consequence
Of the westward movement Of the city's
elect.
Ostensibly he IL a curio dealer. bu,
his revenue Is mainly derived from
furnishing and hanging the walls OF
fashionable dwellings with century old
portraits.
This clever manipulation OF mems
vanIties has ancient, straight backed
furniture and copper kettles and snuif'
ers for candles and bullseye watches
and similar relics Of ancient grandeur,
all Mt your disposal for a night, when
you, poor fellow, with money. but nc
ancestors. want your friends to know
what an old family yours is! He also
has rare furnishings for libraries and
drawing rooms which you may rent II
you have the price.
1t matters not from what part of the
country the applicant halls or what
particular descent he wishes to claim,
his needs are promptly filled.
For those who wish to pose as llneal
descendants of the stanch old colonial
patriots who fought the stamp tax and
defied the power Of King George at
Bunker Hill and drew up the Declara'
ton there Is especially attractive stock.
For the naughty cavalier who "came
over with Lord Delaware there are
costumes and furniture and portraits
Of more elaborate style. rs BELTS the
past Of emigrants who In England
basked In the favor OF the king and
were participants In brilliant court Ger
emonials.
The Quaker City allegiance to the
honored memory Of William Penn is O
sentiment that the curio dealer has
been careful to cherish.
On his walls he has portraits Of stu
dious looking Quakers- On his shelves
are modest Quaker clocks that did
service In the days when the founder
was exchanging thirty blankets fol
Philadelphia.
There are Quaker walking sticks, tin
der boxes. documents on all subjects
household utensils a legion.
1t 10 true that this system OF supply
Ing ancestors has its Disadvantages
Contrrtemps such a. the one revealed
ut the beginning Of this article art
bound to occur. The hawklike eye Of Q
connoisseur. trained to recognize In
stantly the value. authenticity and his
tory Of antiques. often pierces the de
ception and remembers seeing thu
"trpasured family heirlooms' some
where else. But In the mnin people
nre gullib.e. and the wealthy but pie
beinn asplrant for social honors vaunt'
the blueness of his blood and pointi
with pride to his hired heIrlooms with
out much danger Of discovery.
And meanwhile the crafty PINT
street dealer smiles, WAKES rich and
echoes q celebrated remark Of Puck'i
regarding the average intelligencs Of
mortalA-Philadelphia North Amerf