The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-02-07
TITLED SNOBS
AT A BARGAIN
Great Attractions for Raft e-Brain-
ed American HeireSseS.
SO DECLARES M'GAvIN
Congressman Handles Subject Of Rotten
international Marriages and Evokes
Laughter and Applause.

"A Washington special says: Internar
tional marriages of American heiresses
to titled foreigners were denounced on
the floor Of the house of representa-
tives Tuesday by Mr.. McGayin Of
Illinois. who spoke on the bill Of his
colleague, Mr. SABBATH, to tax all dow
ries and titled husbands.
Mr. McGavin's remarks were made
under the license of general debate. At
times they provoked laughter and ap-
plause on both sides Of the cham
Der.
The house, he said, was in commit
tee of the whole on the state of the
union, but he wanted to know what the
state of the union was, and what it
was coming to lin view of these in
teYnational unions between American
actresses and alleged mobiles from
abroad" He wondered what the
early pioneers would think and say If
from their graves they could look back
and see so many of the women of this
country sacrificing their souls and
honor upon the altar of snohhery and
vice"
He expressly stated that he had no
reference to any particular American
girl, nor has he prejudice against all
titled men, but he referred "only to-
those who have a monocle on their
eyes and an idiotic look upon their
faces-those who have not the dispo-
sition to do good nor the ability to
do harm.
Mr.. McGavin said his curiosity had
been aroused to know the right COM
mittee to which the bill should have
gone, but he had found that 1t prop.
erly had gone to the committee on
ways and means, because it sought to
levy tax. And then, he said, he was
curious to know whether the present
tariff schedule included dukes, earls,
lords and counts.
Finding that these things were no.
where mentioned, | thought it might
be proper for the customs officials
to classify them, like frogs legs, as
poultry, for it is general opinion
among Americans that they are spe-
cies Of geese"
Mr.. McGayin said the United States
triumphantly had referred to the fact
that as between it and other nations
the balance Of trade was in its favor,
"but," he said, nowhere in the sum-
mary can be found reference to
such trade as that in which soiled and
frayed nobility is exchanged for few
million American dollars, wrung from
the lambs of Wall street, with wo-
man thrown in to boot"
Every day." he declared, seemed
to be bargain day in New York city.
whether 1t be for a yard of ribbon or
pound Of flesh; whether 1t be upon the
retail counter Of Broadway or the auc-
ton block of Fifth avenue.
In these days, he said, wealthy
American girls travelling abroad, when
they see some remnant of royalty, en-
Enthusiastically exclaim: oh, mamma,
buy me that! An interpreter is then
secured, a bargain is made, the money
is produced and the girl is gone to
soon return sadder but a wiser one"
In conclusion Mr.. McGavin said:
while / have engaged in some crit
icism of those particular ones who
have made mockery Of the most sa.
cred relations Of nfe-of those not
satisfied with any other name but
Countess Spaghetti or Countess Mac
caroni,' want to say one word In
tribute to those true American women
who have spurned the wiles Of earls,
lords and counts for the love of his
majesty-an American citizen"