The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-08
ANCESTORS TO ORDER.
How PhiladeIphians,W without Glory OF
Family, Can Hire Ii.

Philadelphia North American.
Two guests were being shown through
Philadelphia mansion in which a nouveau
richie broker was entertaining party of
fashionable friends few days ago.
The splendid array of family heirlooms
all bespeaking lineage for earliest colo
NAL origin, deeply impressed one of the
party. He was a stranger but lately ar
rived from Baltimore. Oddly enough his
companion. a Philadelphia, seemed flip
PANTY Indifferent to these treasured relics
Of family's honored history.
Remarkable collection of heirlooms our
host has" remarked the stranger, as he
stopped before a battle-scarred sword of
revolutionary days.
Yes" drawled the Philadelphia, cyni-
y, It lacks the the charms of novelty for me
Already this season I've seen the same
batch of relics in three other Philadelphia
How could that be?"
ooh. simple enough. 1t only means that
all four families, our host and the three
others refer TO, hired their ancestral trap
pings from the same man."
Hired them?'
Yes hired them. We have in this city
an enterprising collector Of colonial junk
lily glory to all who were unfortunate
enough TO be born without it..
"Whewi' was the only comment the as
tonished Baltimorean could utter
And doubtless many Phiadelphians would
be moved to say "Whewi' If they could
learn how many members of the Quaker
City social elect are constrained TO seek the
assistance of the heirloom dealer when
they wish to give a brilliant fSnction.
1t is a deception that is forced upon them,
for unless you have distinguished appear
ing forbears you stand little chance of
penetrating the sacred precincts of the
local fashionable set.
Ancestry, not cash, is the open sesame
And even If a man can claim some sort of
q family tree his pretensions ques-
toned unless he can show some of the fur
niture or portraits that his American fore
father brought with him on the Mayf1ower
or the Welcome.
OF course. if the two vessels named had
been as large as the Great Eastern, and
had been loaded with nothing but heir
stock needed to launch the descendants of
Pilgrim fathers into society. Hence the
need of an heirloom dealer.
He has his warerooms in a part of the
city which was once the center of fashion,
but is now deserted by that element in
consequence of the westward movement of
the city's elect.
Ostensibly he is a curio dealer, but his
revenue is mainly derived from furnishing
and hanging the walls of fashionable
dwellings with century-old portraits.
The clever manipulation of mems vani-
ties has ancient, STRAIGHTFORWARD furniture
and copper kettles, and snuffiers for cam
relics of ancient grandeur-all at your dis
posal for a night when you, poor fellow,
with money but no ancestors, want your
friends to know what old family yours
is! He also has rare furnishings for Ii
braries and drawing rooms which you
may rent if you have the price.
1t matters not from what part of the
country the applicant halls, or what par
ticular descent he wishes to claim, his
needs promptly filled.
For those who wish to pose the lneal de-
scendants of the stanch old colonial pa
triOts who fought the stamp act and de-
fed the power of King George at Bunker
hill and drew up the declaration, there
is especially attractive stock.
For the naughty cavalier who "came
over with Lord De La Ware there are
costumes and furniture and portraits of
more elaborate style as BELTS the past of
emigrants who. in England, basked in the
favor of the King, and were participants
! in brilliant court ceremonials.
The Quaker City allegiance to the hon.
| ored memory of William Penn is a Senti-
ment that the curio dealer has been care
| full TO cherish.
! On his walls he has portraits Of studious-