The Washington herald., 1909-03-28
NOBLESSE OBLIGE IN EUROPE
Methods Adopted of Dealing with the Problem Constituted
by INDECENT People of Title

Is recognized as wholly beyond redemp-
ton. that he is expelled from the society.
This is equivalent 10 a sentence Of out
lswry, since the state always takes cog
nizance Of a penalty OF this kind which
does not, however, prevent The associa-
ton from extending a helping hand TO the
wife and children OF the offender.
In Austria, an association similar to
the Deutscher Adeisgenossenschaft has
likewise been brought into existence.
largely through the initiative or Prince
Charles TrautmansdorH. Some years ago.
encouraged by the success Of the Ger
man society. the prince addressed circu-
lars 10 all the leading well-to-do men,
bers Of the old aristocracy in Austria and
Hungary. containing the following queries:
First. how much money are you dis
posed 10 subscribe toward a foundation
for impoverished mobiles?
Second. have you any house or castle
that you could place at the disposal Of
such foundation. for use as a home for
the aged and sick?
Third. can you offer employment, eth
eT in connection with your household or
with the administration OF your estates
TO any impoverished aristocrats anxious
to render themselves usefulg'
The replies received by the prince sur
passed his most sanguine expectations
So generous was the response 10 his cir
culars. that he was able TO constitute a
committee. composed OF several OF the
most influential. wealthy. and grandest
members OF the Austro- Hungarian no
biiity for the purpose OF putting the
project into execution, ana applying
thereto the subscriptions and offers OF
assistance received.
Prince TrautmansdOrff advanced the
very sensible argument that it Is not only
a matter OF duty. but also OF policy. for
the wealthy members OF the aristOcracy
10 provide for their Impoverished rela-
tives, and FOR the pauper members or
their caste, instead OF leaving their care
70 others. Each grade Of the social svs-
TEN has its prOletarlat, and the aristoc-
racy is no exception 10 the rule. Pros
porous actors look after their less fortu-
nate comrades. and have founded and
maintain no end % charitable institu-
tions for them. and the same esprit de
corps Is TO be found In almost every
calling in life
Why should this not be also the case
with aristOcracy7 They certainly have
infinitely more cause 70 do so than anv
other class. For az the moment when
the very existence Of the arlstocracy as
an integral part OF the social system is
so seriously menaced by the growth OF
democracy. IL is surely OF the utmost i'm.
portance 10 its members TO endeavOr BY
every means IN their power 10 maintain
It's prestige in popular consideration.
Zach one who comes to grief brings dis
credit not only upon himself alone. but
likewise upon his entire caste, the honor
OF each one being the honor OF the whole
class: and when any aristocrat exposes
himself to popular obloquy. he brings
down the latter. not only upon himself.
but upon bis fellows as well Il IS
therefore imperative that those who have
met with misfortune. or who are reduced
to want should be rendered advice and
assistance by the more prosperous mem
bers Of the nobility. before thev are
driven by starvation and despair 10 re-
sort 70 not only questionable. but 70
downright criminal methods OF exist
ence
II there IS one fault 10 be found with
these associations Of mobiles in Northern
Germany and in Austria. il is that they
are somewhat too exclusive. Only those
are regarded as fitting objects OF assist
ance and relief who can boast of really
blue blood in their veins. and who have a
long line of noble ancestors behind them
in fact, TO use a German expression. who
are both "HOf und taefelfahig;" that is
TO say. possessed OF a sufficiently pura
lineage 10 endOw them with the right q
access TO court and seat AT the table of
the sovereign. These qualifications are
likewise exacted by all those lay converts
IN Austria, Southern and Northern Ger
Il lob fTnu H. II.
Theresa and other sOvereigns dead and
gone, maintain. thanks to their original
endowments, a number of penniless sin
gle ladies Of noble birth. STYLED Chanoin-
nesses, II not in luxury. at any rate IN
comfort. The most important OF these
is that Of the noble ladies' OF
the Hradraschin, al Prague which Occu-
pies wing Of the royal palace in the
Bohemian capital. and which is presided
over by the heir apparent's sister. Arch
duchess Maria Annunciata. the acting
Empress. and who by virtue Of her posi-
tion as Lady Abbess Of this particular
enjoys, although a woman and
not bound 20 celibacy. certain episcopal
prerogatives. notably that OF crowning
the cOnsOrt OF the King OF Bohemia.
There is only one country IN the world
where the state undertakes TO provide
FOR impoverished members OF the aristo-
cracy. as such. That is Bavaria. An
ancient law enacts that an annual allow
ance shall be granted by the government
to impoverished mobiles. 1t had almost
become obsolete, and for A long time no
one had ever dreamed of taking advan-
tage Of its provisions when suddenly a
few years ago a young count, Lerchen-
field, who. during the course Of his law
studies, had unearthed this particular