The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-21
BarOnets on Strike.


From extracts taken from a circu-
lar recently issued to the Members Of
the Hereditary Order OF Baronets of the
United Kingdom and their families, and
published by the London Daily Mall il
seems as though some recreant baronet
had been betraying secrets to the press.
The document takes the form of an in
vitation to join the Standing Council of
the Baronetage. This proposed organi-
cation might aptly be called a Baronets'
Union, and the circular is signed by
eighteen baronets, who say to the per-
sons eligible for membership:
We think 1t necessary to insist tina, II Is ndis
pensabe to the honor and well being OF any degree
of hereditary dignity that It should possess per-
manent central organization TO deal with all mat
tiers affecting It's interests. The proposition is
surely self-evldent"
The baronets have been having trouble
lately. Only as recently as on the occa-
sion of the late coronation and thanksgiv-
ing services they came precious near to
having their noble feelings rather badly
! hurt. The necessity for organization
was made evident when, as the circular
puts it:
The degree was not only saved from being
| totally Ignored as such by the ofrciAl Committee
for the Coronation on the plea that Il had eStab
llshed claim 10 representation but, by vigorous
action on the part OF the accidental organization.
valuable precedent was made, II not really his.
! torlcaly renewed In the Invitations gained. Tho
new Council. II powerfully supported, must neccs-
sartly become a powerful Instrument
| About half century ago the baronets
sought TO obtain from the favor of the
Crown the right to wear some designat-
! ing mark of distinction similar to the
insignia Of such orders Of chivalry MS
the Garter, the Thistle and the Bath. But
on that occasion, according TO BURKE,
too much was asked and nothing
gained To-day the hereditary order
founded by JAMES | in 1851 is waking
up. 1t is going 10 organize The baro-
nets will fall into line and seek their
rights by modern union methods.
Memberships. costing two guineas,
yearly, are open to:
IA Baronets in lawful possession Of that r,,lc
II, Their wives.
tc The widows OF deceased lawful baroue,s"
While associates, at guinea head,
will be recruited from these classes:
"(s Heirs-apparent, or prcsumptivc, 10 a lawful
baronrtcy.
icy Honorary orlcers OF the Standing Council
for the time being
Intending members and associates
are in all seriousness informed that those
elected after Aug l in any year will pay
only half of that years subscription,
and that there is power TO lower the
rate in the event of large influx of
subscribers
What cheerful surprise England may
get some day, when the representatives
of that order at whose head stands the
intellectually ilustrious name Of BACON,
and on whose more modern roll are
names as preeminent in science, litera-
ture, commerce and arms, as TEMPLE,
III MPhfEf DAVY, iEhSCh Hell, WALTER
SCOTT, ASHLEY COOPER, RoTHsCHILD,
NAPIER, HAvELoCK and OUTRAM, are
ordered by the union out on strike, Will
the baronets insist upon the eight-hour
law for all court functions and public
ceremonials? Doubtless they will not
fail to appreciate all the beauty and the
mystery Of Graft" Think Of the op-
portunities for the Walking Delegate
for some transatlantic Sir SAMUEL DE
PARKS. The newly rich hostess, am
bilious 70 break into London society and
anxious for a baronet or two for her
dinner or her dance, will be a source Of
permanent revenue to him, and tribute
will readily be forthcoming from the
company promoter seeking names for
his prospectus
Was there some Hateful and mysterious
premontion of the gripping talons Of the
Walking Delegate in King JAMEs's grant
to the baronets of the right to bear on
their coat armors the augmentation of
the sinister hand gules3