davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1908-05-24
NEw-YoRK- DAILY TRIBUNE SUNDAY, MAY "a 1908

by law in 1853 an influential goldsmiths' guild ex-
listed earlier than $780, but this not chartered
for about century and half afterward. For
centuries such men were practically the bankers
OF the realm.
In 1857 the silversmiths and gcldsmiths consti-
tuted powerful craft. Abuses in the Of alloys
had grown to such extent that six OF the most
discreet among plate workers were chosen to see
that all silver pieces were made OF metal Of not
less intrinsic value than the Kings money In the
year 1900 these entitled wardens and
their powers established Upon the annual
election of wardens the prime warden was pre-
sented with the new punches for the variable an
nuai letter which must be stamped upon the silver,
and these he distributed the makers.
The only makers mark seen upon Shefled plate
since the 1873 consists of the initial letters OF
the Christian and of the silversmith, with
or without the mark of the artisan who made the
article The matter OF marks upon Shefied ware
is of great interest, especially before the date
when the English law decided that upon the ware
must be stamped the makers mark, lion passant.
distinct, variable letter to be changed annually
upon the election OF wardens for each company and
the mark of the company besides the town mark.
in the of Sheffield, in octagon, or
shield
An old piece of Sheffield ware is usually stamped
in this fashion: Silver, Q. g.. Ditto, n. s.. lion
passant. Britannia, the variable annual letter (to
which. since 17s4. the sovereign's head added
to raise money to carry the war against Ameri-
colonies), the makers initials and last of all
the town mark
Sheffield was Of the great silversmith towns
which had 10 send its wares London to Be
stamped until the year 1773, when assay ONCE
for old silver established in that town and
Birmingham, and to the latter town was added, in
1924 for gold also
After this date Sheffield plate makers were able
to assay their and put them the
stamp of valuation. In the OF silver OF the
highest standard the Britannia stamp alone
used. unaccompaned by that of the lions head
erased.
The Birmingham date letters have been regular
alphabets. but Sheffield for the first half CEN
tury after their use was prescribed, date letters
were selected random until 1924. when Sheffield
also adopted the regular letter IN aphabetc order,
occasionally. however. emitting it. and sometimes
crowning it
From LIS 1799 old English capital letters were
New-York tribune., 1908-05-24
CELEBRATED sILvERsMITHs.

Royalty alone in the sixteenth century had the
right to five degrees while mobiles Of the highest
rank rejoiced in four. lesser ranks were indi-
Gated by decreasing numbers Of STEPS until knights
banneret and persons OF gentle descent not mobiles
were LEFT with only desre which to display
their possessions in silver as best they could
Artists in metal working carefully trained
and celebrated in these times. Such men as
Thomas Eessy, notable in 1855: Nicholas Twyford
most distinguished Of silversrniths in 1879 and
The great goldsmith. Sir Drew Bsrentyn who died
IN I4l5 had and still have nurldwide regulations
artists Of signal ahilify.
Hogaruh was apprenticed TO a famous silver
smith, Ellis Gamble. in ZIP, about six years
worked az engraving upon silver for him Some Of
Hogarth's work with the mark upon it, is still to
be found.
On Sheffield plate the workers mark is : minute
.ign beside the initial letters Of the makers name
salvers with gadrooned edges most indicative
Of Hosarths time. II was common thing for
tourneynen in establishments TO make pieces
Of silver for friends relatives and such pieces
never marked
Before the manner in which plate should b.
marked va. fixed by law. in 1859 slversroiths
stamped their work with symbolic ssns and on
very old pieces may be the sign Of the grass
hopper rlarigold and heart. while notable mark
is that of water bird in dotted circle These
symbols we're discontinued in 1851
In old times any one known 10 transpose hall
marks or 10 use false ones had to sacrifice their
for the offence while the least penalty ,,
enterprising and interruptions persons not only
trsnepose marks but enoeavor TO sell thiny coated
shemeld pieces. made from old dies as solid an
taue pieces Of alloy, capable o; being used daily
FOR 1b years without showing their copper rounds-
lion which takes plscs around the soloered- in hall
real antique spoon and dovetafl II into larxs
pieoe OF modern ware. Th. purchaser paw. for a
nne antique, and only time dfsclores the dfscoIora
tion. which takes place around the sodered in hall
mark
a real 5hefield dish is sometimes finished with
modern top. which brings its antique price Will.
real olo epouts on teapots and ancient handles
feet sno ornaments upon modern travs are so
cleperly introduced 10 deceive eny but tn. most
sstute collsctor-tor a time
Ihe wise collector studies haH n marks n, not.a
eilVersnitfs or the make OF unstampes rtacas "a
tnen demands with his purchase an in,oi,e and 1
guarantee which any honest dealer Willingly gives
sno which protect him against fraud whether u,i,
ungly or unWittingly practised
Ahhoush shemeld ware first hsd a standard rsrk
AH1He - 9@ Aaa The UA4ga naATk, dssixnatsl
New-York tribune., 1908-05-24

| officer in the eyes of the rank and file of the
people.
| Habitual intemperance, gambling as a busi-
ness rather than as a pastime questionable
financial transactions, debts of a kind that a
man would be unwilling to acknowledge openly
| ana feminine intrigues of dishonorable nat
ure. were the offences which the courts OF
honor have primarily in view. Even from the
very outset there was never any question of
their possessing the power of infiicting any
punishment. The court contented itself either
with a recommendation to the effect that there
should be no further promotion of the officer
in question. at any rate until he mended his
ways or else that he should be requested to
dof his uniform and to resign from the army
So ef1cacous did these courts prove that the
monarch not alone refrained from promoting
any officer who had thus been denounced by
his comrades as unfit for advancement but by
degrees abandoned his sovereign prerogatfve
of depriving Of their commissions until
they had heen passed upon and condemned bv
court of this kind.
In this way the court of honor became a
source Of protection TO the officers. They knew
that rs long as they ordered their military and
their private life in such fashion as to meet
with the approval of a tribunal composed Of
their comrades and of their messmates they
were NlItudNy Sd1e from any arbitrary action
on the part of the sovereign. since the latter
would not venture to dismiss them unless he
had previously obtained the approval of the
court. On the other hand. II this tribunal re-
commended the dismissal. the monarch had his
hand strengthened, and could accuse
him OF using his power unjustly. since the
action had been recommended by the officers
own peers.
In tho German and Austrian armies there is a
court Of honor for each regiment 1t 10 COM
posed OF the entire body Of officers. and is COM
petent to deal with questions relating to officers
up to and inclusive of the rank of captain
Matters relating TO majors. lieutenant colonels
and cc.ones are dealt with by q court composed
OF officers Of those ranks of each regiment Of the
brigade or division OF which the regiments In
question are units. and each regiment mora
over, Is additionally represented on this diyis-
lonal court OF honor by delegation consisting
OF one captain. one lieutenant and one sub
selected by the reglmental court In
questions where the honor and behavior of gen
erals are concerned it is the sovereign himself
who. as generaiissino. selects and appoints the
members Of the court OF honor. which II Is need
less to add eensists exclusively OF general
New-York tribune., 1908-05-24

- ..-.-. to;,oved until 1874 BY ordinary
nrint capitals which gave place TO sinali -. -
IN 1874 Capitals were again useo ui i's'' =,
when small old English characters nave nAeu '"'
date. 49,, -. ror,
In 1855 a select committee Of the House or Co'
on. sat 70 receive reports upon the workings OK
the provincial assay offices. and Sheiheio' ~
been In the habit of annually senoihs I'D ui
mint for trial. came in for specai co'nien
p.r,ans meyer I'm It's history did English piate
have the prominence ana sho" 'n 81 the
which II possessed during Tudor tunes aho ',o
r.,,n ~ Queen Elizabeth. when great inoie
IN. noticeabJe in the luxury OF wrought oi
To N. eerIv mart of her reign are ascrioeo eup
shaped like goufds and melons with
wrought feet made Of stems and tehorHs-
This work 1, very slow ana 'eoious CIV h,.t
With a variety Of tools. principal among Viz VIII
90 .ba,n instruments called grayers hanihio
nd lunches for chasing. scallopers. wnlcn 90 p'a
cutting and wriggling as Weh the
shading dot tool saws and buls.
DeI,cacy Of feeling is a prime quahty n So
.neraver and artistic ability ana kno"
drau,,n1 are requisite. since the whoie success "
,,a ds,sns. unon the subject being correctly
drawn ,+. gran,
The magnificent engraving which ceCo'N -
,uv.r p,eces-many Of which have no halne i ~
,anruare of to-day-is q lost art, oul '"
,.vival I'm the taste for 1t and people reih
that IN. names Of famous ensravers upon Iiea 'a
-. h..n knoxn since before the time OF Moses
that zoo B. c. the Greeks did notable Work IN me me
engraving and that Italian and Herinai
Er,u,h and Russian engraving upon hle''i "
,bo fourt eeenth and sixteenth centuries "eh' ~
uyo,d. TO describe their masnihcence -.
A,+boupb the fad Of to-day Is for sheneiu p go
-, -. 9. often used broadly to cover ali oio
v~r.b silver of the same period ana IN 'he 's
49, rh., 4. artistic and beautiful in ensra'eo 80
adorned metal the work OF o'ner 0'
ENGLAND is by 10 means 2egiecteo'
New-York tribune., 1908-05-24
A Court of Honor Would
Deal with His Case
Summarily.

! tCopyrisht. 1905. by the Brentwood Company.I
President Roosevet's letter to Senator Rayner
concerning Colonel W. F. Stewart leaves no
doubt as To the unftness of that officer to exer-
else any command. At the same time it is shown
that he has avoided doing anything that would
warrant his trial by court martial and his dis
| missal- There are plenty of offences which do
not come within the range of the army res,la-
tons and which do not constitute according to
the latter. sufficient for court martial vet
which are intolera bic in officer of the army
or navy and which render his employment as
such Impossible
In England. where the officers hold their COM
missions merely during the pleasure Of the King.
such offences are dealt with usually on the
recommendation of the cuprit's commanding
officer. Only year ago a young subaltern Of
the Guards, Of the name Of Woods possessed of
consdera be means in this way forced out
Of the army, for other reason than that his
temperamental characteristics were such as un-
work in the necessary unison with his fellow
officers. He invoked the services Of some of the
most eminent lawyers OF the United Kingdom
but after careful consideration they came to tho
conclusion that he had no redress and that the
hihe possessed the statutory power OF dismiss
ing any ano every officer of the army and Of tho
navy without any or giving any reason
ana that commissions in both services are held
entirely during the pleasure of the monarch
Indeed. every now and again The Official Ga
zette' contains the brief announcement to tho
eject that this or that offcer is removed from
the army through the King having no further
use for his services" Usually there has been
no court martial In fact, people are left to
draw thelr own conclusions as to the reasons
which have led to this action on the part Of
the sovereign. II may be added that there has
been no instance Of abuse OF these powers dur
ing the last two reigns.
In Germany, in Austria and in Italy offences
and shortcomings the part Of officers that
do not come within the range of the military
regulations or constitute sufficient grounds for
a court martial dealt with bv so-caIIad
courts Of honor, and since the President doea
not possess like King Edward. the power to dis
miss an officer from the army by merely de-
clarins that he has no further use for his s.r
ytos& y may b aaksd whsthsx Il mould not b
New-York tribune., 1908-05-24
HUGH OLD PLATE DESTROYED.

Owing 20 frauds practised in the making OF
Plate al over Europe law regulating the pro-
lo-tion Of baser metal which might be used with
silver and gold was enacted in nearly every coun-
Secular Sheffield plate Ct cate earlier than the
reign CT Henry VII is as scarce is the Church
plate r lines prior 10 the Reformation Plate Of
the century beginning with the reign Of Henry VII
ard enG.ng in 15sS furnishes siGeboards OF to-day
with their choicest specimens The rarity CT such
peces is due TO the destructiv. agencies which
soCeht 20 wipe all fre English plate out OF
istenCe during ne Wars Of the Roses and me
conflict between Cavaliers and Roundheads CT
later period.
Even more destructive to plate the require
minis Of King and Parliament III subsequent
centCry and the proclamation Of William III at
the end Of the seventeenth century. offering
premium for hdll marked silver In 1897 great
numbers or PEOPLE Loyalty parted with plate OF
the highest artistic value well that it could
reve- be replaced. Equally deplorabe the
enormous sacrifice CT silvervare made a century
later satisfy a popular whim for having splen-
oi6 dinner services made in the pattern Of that day
from melted silver the beauty Of which had once
been the pride and glory Of the silversrniths art
This destruction due the fact that
supply cf silver such had once poured into
England from Spanish America. available.
The possessor Of article made in this period.
-l761-is envied person for it is extremely diff
hcult procure piece Of either silver gilt gold
Of that date. when the popular style of dinner ser
vice was silver gilt and not pure gold, is
orally believed Comparatively few articles
made Of pure gold al that time
William Harrison, chaplain to Lord Gotham,
writing about the agnifcerce Of plate in the six
teenth century, told Of private collections worth
thousands Of pounds sterling and of how splendid
they looked displayed upon tables adorned with
carpets and muche fine nnen.'' and commented
upon the fact that even inferior artifcers and
mamie farmers sarnished their cupboards only
with articles wrought in pewter and brass but
with fine plate, in imitation OF the custom Of
bierren
Great is the rage 10 possess old Sheffield plate.
have Yet introduced degrees in American
horres-those quaint royal shelves made Of
wide and four narrow steps which fortunes in
rare plate exhibited
New-York tribune., 1908-05-24
II STEWART WERE A EUROPEAN SOLDIF r

well to have courts OF honor in the United States
army and navy.
Had Colonel Stewards case occurred In Ger
many, the mere fact of his having committed
no breach Of the military regulations Of suf-
ncient gravity to warrant court martial
would have ava1ied him as nothing in the eyes
OF the court Of honor which would have
weighed those idiosyncracies and those de-
fects OF character to which the President made
allusion In his letter addressed the other day
to the Senator from Maryland The court Of
honor would have decided whether the prestige
and efficiency Of the corps of artillery were
likely to be benefited or in1uriousy affected
by his retention in active service, and a verdict
Of a tribunal Of that kind against him, coupled
with a declaration by his comrades that he
untitled to exercise any command or to
continue to hold commission in the service
would undoubtedly have strengthened the hand
Of the President in dealing with his case and
have effectually silenced all opposition. No
legislation would be required for the institu-
ton OF these courts of honor They are or
ganized by the officers themselves for their own
protection, and no Minister OF War no Presi-
dent nor even absolute monarch could
afford TO ignore the vote concerning com
missioned officer by court composed of his
associates, the sole object Of which is TO main
TAIN at It's nlRneSt point the hOnOr of the
70 which they belong and of the army or of
the navy, as the may be
These courts Of hoonr came into existence
In Prussia just hundred years ago. when a
large number Of officers determined that It was
necessary to raise the tone OF the commissioned
ranks in order to accomplish the liberation of
the Fatherand from French thraIdom. the
liberation being regarded In those DAYS not
merely as a patriotic but even rs 4 sacred duty
They came to the conclusion that tho military
disasters sustained by Prussia at tho hands Of
Napoleon and the consequent loss OF her ,nde
pendence had been largely due to the lack OF
character on the part OF the commanders which
found a reflection In the absence Of djscinIna
on the part Of their troops. and realized that
the reform in this respect must como not from
but from within, and that II wa, in
cumbent upon themselves TO establish a higher
sense Of DUTY and OF honor and a loftier moral
tone. 1t was with this object In view that with
the approval OF the King they organized court.
OF honor for the purpose of dealing with
officers who. while Innocent of anv actual
offence against military regulations were
likely, by their mode OF Ife their character.
md their behavior when of duty, to affect
nsaEtauslx TIA GpaA. lnAme. .7ae- ~ -RR.aa1nr
New-York tribune., 1908-05-24

| The regfmental court of honor exercises a care
full supervision and what may be described as
even an inquisitorial control of the public and
private life and behavior of every officer of the
regiment. It's main object is TO take into strict
account anything and everything that IS CAL
culated to compromise In the slightest degree the
prestige and isderation OF the officers of the
corps. and with this purpose in view the court
taheS note even OF their social and domestic re-
lations 1t Is quick to ascertain If an officer ha,
debts, If he Is addicted TO drink IL he gambIes
beyond his means. If he frequents questionable
society, and, In case he is married. whether his
wires conduct Is not only above reproach. but
even beyond the reach of unkind1y gossip and
calumny
The court of honor likewise keeps track Of snv
dispute or controversy in which he NAV have
become involved. and to how he has born.
himself IN the matter. In fact there Is not n
single phase of his life which escapes the search
ing scrutiny OF the court OF honor. and when
ever he is found wanting he is commanded 10
appear before the court OF honor IL this su-
pervision exercised by the regimentaI ror,+ or
honor upon the life of the officers of the CORPS
appears to be unduly inquisitorial. 1t must be
remembered that after all the one object in view
Is the sooo name, the honor and the welfare OF
the regiment as whole. and that in perbap,
a lesser degree much the same supervision is
oAeiCiSeu py tne governors Of leading clubs m
both sides of the Atlantic on the conduct and
reputation Of their members II In the regiment
a closer control Is necessary than In that of a
club. IL Is because officers are forced to mora
intimate association with another and ara
directly responsible for another's honor
Colonel Stewards case has some analogy with
that of ex-Colonel Gaedke. of the Prussian army
now and the most authoritative and brtIlisn.
writer on military subjects In the German pres.
Gaedke IL . wonderfully gifted and talented
man. and as colonel OF artillery and a. ,tan
officer ho enjoyed the highest kind Of a reput.
ton IN the German army. His orsaniza-
ton OF the manCcuvres considered remnrk
able. and his knowledge OF military history. OF
tactical science OF everything pertaining 10
ordnance. was so universally acknow lodged thar
officers came from far and near to attend his
lectures and addresses. With all that he poS
sessed the most unfortunate temperamental de-
fects of character lie was forever quarreIlIna
not merely with his subordinates but also with
his superiors. and getting into one dispute after
another not only with the civil authorities but
also with the social disnitaries OF the garrisons
to which he assigned
1t was this and this alone tha. led to h4a be
- PnHon0A. nfnnnntdon -. .eA> s>~A
New-York tribune., 1908-05-24
SHEFFIELD PLATE
AN EXPENSIVE FAD
REPRESENTS LARGELY a
LOST ART.
Hall Marks of Famous Engrauers
Diligently Sought-CleUer Imi-
tations Likely to DeceiUe.
By NJ. W. Mount.

re:gnins fad among people who can afford IT
IL the collection Of old Sheffield plate. According
20 English usage the term plate meant pure sill
up 10 the year l742. when Thomas Bolsover dis
covered the process Of overlayng copper with sill
Strictly speaking. Sheffield plate to-day means
only articles made after this process. although
tain pieces always continued to be made OF pure
silver
Gree. everer1iths OF to-day bend their energies
10 collecting and. far possible, initiating fine
examples Of old plate, the making and adorning
OF which is largely lost art while shops dedicated
70 the sale OF antiques often rich in pieces Of
rare plate and auctioneers keep a sharp lookout
for treasures in old Sheffield coveted by their
patrons.
While a growing appreciation Of the decorative
values Of antique plate exists it be confessed
that most people desire Sheffield ware not so much
because it is exquisite and valuable but be-
cause il is fashionable.
Lovers OF objects OF antiquity seek certain hall
marks which they know 10 be exceedingly
The marks Sheffield plate-after the first CEN
turies of its exstence-1ere so pronounced that they
easily recognizable and, in addition 10 the
stamps, special patterns and designs which
popular in certain centuries, for instance,
the beautiful cups made in what is known the
''egg-and-tongue moulding with bands of engraved
foliage, which TO the reign Of Queen
Elizabeth.
salvers OF the reign Of Queen Anne identified
by The abundance of exquisite chasing wrought
upon them in connection with engraving, shaping
and rhe presence Of three four little feet on the
under side Those belonging to the reign OF George
II possessed finely moulded borders. boldly chiselied
with shells and other ornamental objects. Shef-
field trays peculiar TO the time Of George III are
plain. in comparison, oval il form and with beaded
edges
Often confused with Sheffield plate is that made
in Birmingham. England. which is practically the
same Thing and is distinguished from articles
made in Sheffield by the stamp Of anchor in
t7ead Of in an octagon Tor shield
The Sheffield brand.
Most Old Sheffield is stamped. while the
modern is not, and all OF il is valuable
than modern silver. although some Of Il is made
= pure sIlier and some of alloy of copper ana
silver Some of the ancient Sheffield dies still
eAtant, and ware made from them is usually passed
of the unsuspecting as ''old Sheffield