The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-03


of the republic has established far stricter
rules. and absolutely refuses official recog-
milton to any title OF nobility unless the
applicant can produce either the original
patent Of creation, an act OF parliament,
or a record of the COur des Complies.
Mere certificates Of birth and marriage,
except In so far as they go to confirm the
right Of the applicant to the original pat
ent, or to identify his family with the one
mentioned IN the records of the COur des
Complies. are not accepted. In one word.
the republican government only grants
recognition and accepts succession dues
and fees of registration for nObiliary titles
concerning the authenticity and right 10
which there can be no possible question
or dispute.
As for the titles Of nobility conferred
upon Frenchmen by the Papacy, the gov
eminent Of the republic absolutely re-
fuses to recognize them. That IS to say,
It declines TO recognize those which failed
to secure recognition prior to the fail Of
the empire In 1870 During the preceding
seventy years about forty-two Papal titles
bestowed by the Papacy upon French cit
liens We're officially recognized by the
French government, and one single one
was accorded sanction by the republic
during the presidency OF Marshal Mac
Mahon. These. OF course. are treated
to-day by the department Of justice as If
they were bona hde French honors. and
taxed as such; but, save for these forty
three instances. the French department
of justice declines to take any stock
whatsoever OF nobilIary dignities accord
ed by the Vatican, or to permit their use
IN official documents. 1t is Of interest to
draw attention 10 this. owing to the fact
that although the Papacy has granted
a little over 800 titles Of nobility 10
French citizens within the last 100 years,
there are at the present moment between
1900 and 10000 individuals IN France who
falsely claim TO hold the handles Of their
names from the PapaCy. II must not be
imagined for one moment that the atti-
tude Of the French government with re-
gard 10 the titles of the Vatican is die
tated BY any motives Of hostility toward
the Roman Catholic church. II adopts,
incidentally. the same course with regard
10 hOnOrs Of an analogous character con-
ferred upon Frenchmen by other foreign
sOvereigus, such as, for instance. King
and Portugal and the various petty
rulers of Germany. II the Papal titles
call for special mention in this connec-
ton, il Is owing to the difficulty which
has always existed in Obtaining infoTma-
ton from the Vatican concerning the
patents which it has granted. Unscrup-
ulous people naturally take advantage
thereof. feeling pretty well assured that
If any inquiries are sent TO Rome con-
corning their pretentions, no reply will
be accorded thereto.
How ridiculous II is TO speak Of the
present French republic as having abol-
ished titles of nobility in France may
be seen in the fact that the national
treasury still pays to this day annuities
to a considerable amount Of certain mobiles
as such. OF nearly $50 titles Of nobility
conferred by the first Napoleon just j
century ago. there are only thirty-seveu
authentic ones still in existence, that is
TO say, which have been inherited in the
male line direct, although there are a
quantity OF them which have been as
sumed without authority by cousins.
nephews, sons-in-law, and even by the
original holder Of the title The great
Napoleon, in creating dUkedoms. prince
doms, and other titles, invariably accom-
panied the honor by the grant OF annuity
payable by the government treasury as
long as there was a legitimate descen-
dant in the male line TIE idea being, OF
course, TO assure 10 the people whom he
had thus honored. and their descendants.
that there should always be enough to
maintain the title with a proper amount
Of dignity. Repeated attempts have been
made to abolish these annuities. But the
proposal has invariably been opposed by
the government OF the day, no matter
what its political texture. On each
change Of regime in France, one Of the
first acts Of the legislature has been 10
assure the credit Of the nation, and to
facilitate the financial operations of the
national treasury by placing the cTedi-
tors Of the state under the safeguard
Of the honor and loyalty Of the French
nation" Among the creditors Of the state
are these thirty-seven holders Of a1nuities
conferred along with titles of nobility by
Napoleon which are inscribed accord
ing TO official parlance on the Grand
Livre de France" that is to say, on the
Grand Ledger of France. As long as the
French govern -neoJ continues TO pay to
the Dukes Of RivCu, of Reggie, and Of
Trevise, and to the Princes Of Wagram.
and of Moskowa (the latter Il lineal do
scendant Of Marshal NeyO. annuities from
the national treasury for the avowed pur-
pose Of enabling them TO maintain their
titles with the proper amount Of dignity.
there can be no question of the nOneXist-
ence. officially speaking, of a bona hde,
authentic nobility of France.
While il would be invidious to enumer-
ate here the names Of these American
heiresses who have married. for the sake
of coronets. Frenchmen whose titles are
of questionable authenticity. and who
have in more senses than one purchased.
in that fashion, ii gold brick. it may be
well to recommend that in future trans
actions of this kind the bridegroom
should be called upon TO show TO his
fancee's parents and relatives the Off
Cial recognition Of any title that he may
bear by the keeper of the great seal OF
France. If he is unable to do this, and
they are in any uncertainty about the
matter. they can easily set their doubts
at rest by an application, either directly
or else through the American Embassy
or consulate in Paris. to the Garde des
Sce2ux Ckeeper of the great seal, or.
better still. TO the learned and courteous
NJ. Monier, who is at the head of that
particular division Of the department OF
justice which is intrusted with the duty
Of examining applications for the revival
Of dormant titles Of nobility, OF register
ing them If the investigation proves sat
isfactory, and of granting the recogni-
ton of the government to honOrs which
have been thus lawfully recalled into life,
or else been inherited from either father.
paternal grandfather, uncle, or brother.
NJ. Monier's official designation is: Direc-
teur des Alfaires Civiles ct du Sceaux an
Denartmenf Dc II Iustica Pnrie II IL