Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1904-03-24
Saint Maru's Beacon


who have dared to enter English
society and who are not to the man.
ner born is most amusing. She
says:
''Fervently one wishes that the
vulgarian millionaire had remained
in his own country, wherever it
may be; had spent his gains in the
gambling saloons. drink shops, cat
tie ranches, gold mines and oil
springs where they were made.
His triumphant march over Eng
land and Paris is disgrace TO the
nobility of both. His iIl-gotten
wealth vile bribe. with which he
purchases heritage, title and ac-
ceptanee. After all the tyranny and
infamy which often have gone to
build up his enormous wealth, he
comes to the old country and buys
its sufferance, aud purchases its
bankrupt estates, and ends by adj
mission to court and atitle for SER
vices rendered. For the millionaire
can afford 10 smile at the poverty OF
the peerage.
He can even afford to offer prince.
ly loans on terms so very advanta-
geous that only etiquette prevents
them being treated as q gift pur
ct simple. Therefore, one must
suppose the "moneyed creature"
has his uses, and once aware of the
fact, refuses to hide his glittering
light under any bushel of self -depre-
citation.
"But what Of the state Of society
where such things are permitted,
condoned, even applauded? How
rotten must be the roots of the tree
when such fungus can Obtain hold
upon i'll Can live and flourish and
expand and draw into its fetid en-
brace the rank and beauty and
nobility that once made England Is
glory"
One is reminded by this raillery
OF the controversy of Widow Bedot
and Elder Sniffies. The widow pre-
tended to be wealthy, and so the
Elder married her for her money,
but, finding she had none, he began
TO upbraid her because OF the fraud
she had practiced, when the willy
widow retorted it was no worse for
her TO have, deceived him about the
money thar!for him to have deceived
her by marrying her for her money.
The truth is honors are easy be-
tween the impecunious nobility and
the parvenu. Many of the nobility
that once made England and France
glorious have degenerated far be.
meath the dignity of genuine, frank
commoners, who by their honest ef-
forts and abilities have acquired
wealth enough to buy the titles OF
degenerate nobility whohave squan-
dered everything but their entailed
titles.
1t is doubtless questionable taste
for these honest people to wish to
buy titles or TO desire to mingle with
the titled class, to purchase dilapi-
dated estates, to occupy castles or
palaces that must be repaired before
they are habitable, but to imagine
that the introduction of good. heal
thy, honest, proud blood into that of
degenerate races affects them un-
favorably is serious mistake.
AS Americans, we regret that any
American woman should be ambiti-
Gus to have title, as we consider
them empty honors but if they must
have them, we are quite sure there
is not single instance on record
where an American has dishonored
any position or title.
AS rule, they are gracious, &c
ccmplished women, who are loyal to
their husbands and their adopted
country. Their children may have
broader views and more independ-
emit spirits than the average descend
ants Of nobility, but they will not
disgrace the honored names they
bear, as some OF their paternal an
cestors have done.
How was it that English society
became so demoralized that repre-
sentatives of titles have to resort to
the nouveau richie to recuperate their
fortunes =? Something must have
been radically wrong before they
were contaminated by association
with the despised commoners.
| am very sorry "Rita" takes such
dismal view OF international mar
riages and exchange oftitles for gold
with which to redeem the decayed
nobility and the estates of old fami-
lies, because it is but fair to tell her
there is just as much solicitude on
the part OF the best society of the
New World lest this infusion of
tainted blood may be disastrous to
the patriotism, republicanism and
ambition of coming generations.
Loyal Americans want future Oen.