The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1903-12-11
TITLES ARE ON SALE.
Foreign Countries Where Titles aAA
Orders Are Freely Conferred
for Spot Cash.

There are various foreign countries
where man can obtain high-sound-
ing handle" to his name by the sim
pie and convenient method of writing
out a check for the amount at which the
distinction is valued. In fact, the rul-
ers of these particular countries derive
no small part of their incomes by con-
ferring titles, orders and decorations
upon those who are willing to pay the
price for them.
Italy has earned the reputation of be-
ing one of the best title-selling coun-
tries. For about 900 the king will
confer on you the title of prince, dis
tinction which carries with it many
privileges. If this amount is little
more than one can afford, there are the
lesser distinctions of duke and marquis,
which cost 1900 and G1,000, respec-
lively. Or for $500 Italy will make you
count, while 6 $50 will buy you the title
OF baron, and G200 enable you to become
noble"
There is another way of obtaining
title in Italy. This is by purchasing
an estate in the country This method,
however, is not often resorted to, as it
is less sure, and often more expensive,
than buying the title outright.
For the comparatively small sum of
9175 the king of Spain will make a for
eigner knight of the Order of Isabella.
A knighthood of the Most Noble Order
of st. James and the Sword, on the other
hand, costs G325, and the candidate
must also become an honorary officer in
the Spanish army, which will cost him
a matter of from ESQ to G100 more The
title of commander can also be bought
for e3o0-with the star, 9375. The
latter decoration is much sought after,
by the bye, as it greatly resembles that
of the Prussian eagle
The king of Portugal, too, has num-
Der of orders that he is ready to dispose
of to suitable purchasers To bestow
upon man the once-envied title of
knight of the Christus order, his majesty
charges G500. A f1fth-class of the Or
der of the Tower and Sword, however,
costs only 6 As, while the fourth, third
and second class can be had for e75,
e125 and G150, respectively.
OF course, a man does not usually
deal direct with the rulers or their pri-
vate secretaries in purchasing any of
the aforementioned distinctions. They
are usually to be obtained through
agents, mostly resident in Holland and
Germany. AS a matter of fact, the
German newspapers have standing adj
vertisements offering for sale distinc-
tons ranging from count to prince.
Occasionally such advertisements ap-
pear in English papers. A few months
ago, for instance, one of the most i'm
portant "dailies" published in London
advertised for sale the title of count in
the Portuguese peerage. For 91,200
the agent guaranteed to arrange the
whole transaction, and the only quail
ficatfon beyond drawing the check re-
quired of the would-be noble was that
he should make preliminary residence
of three months in Lisbon.
Servia's ruler has at his disposal the
Order of Takoma, which he will bestow
on any one for ESQ and $780, the first
charge being made for knighthood and
the latter for commandery. A similar
price is asked for the Sun and Lion
orders of Persia, and for the Medjidie
decoration, which the Turkish sultan
sells to the faithful as well as to the
faithless. The sultan of Turkey also
sells the Osmanje order of the first class
for about 1000, and the third class of
the same order for $3.50 The Star of
Roumania, possessed by many literary
men, is quoted by agents at G200, while
the sultan of Tunis offers the Order of
Nischanel Istikar, in three classes, at
$50, e125 and e15O, respectively.
San Marino, the smallest republic in
the world, which is situated in Mount
Titano, in the Italian province of En-
lila, does flourishing business in titles
Unlike other countries, however, San
Marine devotes most of the money so
gained to the maintenance of charitable
institutions. AS a matter of fact, the
system of selling titles in the little re-
public originated in this manner: A
hospital was required, and there being no
money in the treasury to pay for the
building of it, the authorities hit upon
the novel idea of offering patents of no
bility for sale. The republic will make
you a duke or baron for e. 900, while
$500 will buy you the title of count.
Scholar or Athlete.
Statistics would tend to show that
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