New-York tribune., 1909-03-28
EUROPE'S INDECENT NOBILITY

Deutscber Adelsgenossenschaft has likewise
been brought into existence largely through the
initiative of Prince Charles TTaHtmansdorE.
Some years ago. encouraged by the success OF
the German society the prince addressed cir
culars 20 all the leading well-to-do members or
the old aristocracy in Austria and Hungary
containing the following queries: "Ftrst-HoW
much money you disposed TO subscribe
toward foundation for impoverished nobiesE
Second-Have you any house or castle that you
could place at the disposal of such foundation
I for use as a home for the aged and sick? Third
Can YOU offer employment, either In connec-
tion with your household or with the admins
tration of your estates to any impoverished
aristocrats ANXIOUS to render themselves use
ful?" The replies received by the prince sur
passed his most sanguine expectations
So generous was the response to his circulars
that he was able TO constitute committee
con,nosed Of several of the most influential,
wealthy and grandest members Of the Austro-
Hungarian nobility. TO put the project into exc
cution and apply thereto the subscriptions anu
offers of assistance received. Prince Trautmahs-
dorff advanced the very sensible argument that
it is not only matter Of duty but also OF pol
lev for the wealthy members Of the aristocracy
to provide for their impoverished relatives ana
for the pauper members of their caste instead
NJ leaving their care to others Each grade or
the social system has its proletariat, ana the
aristocracy Is no exception TO the RUE FroS-
perous actors look after their less fortunate
comrades and have founded and MAINTAIN no
end of charitable institutions for them ana 'no
same esprit de corps is to be found in almost
every calling in life Why should this not be
also the case with tho aristocracy!
They certainly have infinitely more cause 10
do co than any other class. for at the moment
,f4 he arfcf a 9
an integral part of the social system is so seri-
ousIv menaced by the growth of democracy, 1t
&c e,reIy, of the utmost Importance to its mem
hers to endeavor by every means in their power
to maintain it's prestige In popular cohsluel@-
ton Each one who comes TO grief brings dls-
credit not only upon himself alone put hke"lse
rnon his entire caste, the honor of each one
being the honor of the whole class. ana "heh
arv aristocrat exposes himself to popular obloquy
he brings down the latter not only upon hlmseH
but upon his fellows well. 1t is therefore
imperative that those who have met With mis-
fortune or who are reduced to want should re-
ceive advics and assistance from the more pros
Derors members Of the nobility before they are
driven by starvation and despair TO resort not
onlv to questionable but to downright criminal
methods of existence
IF there is one fault to be found with these
associations of mobiles in Northern Germany and
in Austria, IL is that they are somewhat 700 eA
elusive. only those are regarded as fitting OBJ
fects of assistance 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 pure lineage TO endow them
with the right Of access to court and seat at
the table of the sovereign. These qualifications
are likewise exacted by all those lay converts
in Austria and Southern and Northern Ger
many which, endowed by Empress Maria
Theresa and other sovereigns dead and gone.
maintain, thanks to their original endowments.
a number of penness single women of noble
BIRTH styled chanoinnesses, if not in luxury, at
any rate in comfort. The most important of
these converts is that of the noble women of the
Hradraschin at Prague, which occupies a wing
Of the royal palace in the Bohemian capital and