El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-09
HERALDRY IS
GROWING IN
AMERICA
Recourse to Genealogical
Records Makes Crests
Possible to Some.
MUCH HERALDRY IN
THIS COUNTRY FALSE
CBv Frederic ]. Haskin1


CBy Frederic J. Haskin-)
London, England. March s.-YYnen an
American woman has arrived at the
point Of desiring a heraldic crest Tor
the Embellishments of her billet douN
and a coat OF arms TO emDlazon upon
her carriage. her husband If he IS q
wise man, takes immediate steps to
While no small amount Of false her
aldry is displayed in the United states
those who desire to use such ornaments
prefer to have them genuine II possible,
as well as to have the proper authority
for their use To secure this. recourse
Is promptly made TO the. genealogical
records upon both sides OF the house TO
that which comes nearest to NOBILITY IN
its descent
If it is found that some ancestor
more or less remote was the bearer Of
a coat Of arms. application may be
made to the College OF Arms for a
certificate Of privilege 10 revive It.
Having obtained this, the American
woman viii have the right to blozOn
ner heraldic ornaments according to
her own sweet Will Unrestricted by
which exist in the countries where her
aldry originated.
Coronation Increased Demand.
The coronation Of king George gave
an unprecedented Impetus 10 the de-
mand for coats OF arms on the part Of
Americans The brilliancy Of the page
ant led many OF the visitors to long
for the decorations borne by their an
cestOrs and since then the College Of
Arms has been besieged with appli-
canrS- More than a third OF the mail
received there during the past six
months has been from the United
states and this. proportion is increas-
ing In the majority of cases. the ap-
pIlcants show good foundation for their
claims and the coveted certificate of
privilege is granted.
The question is frequently asked.
W nat entities an american family to
the use Of arms % The answer is that
HeIdI4Iy IS international, so that an
american I-.e who can prove that his family
1ole arms IN a European country can
secure the permission TO use that de-
sign quite as readily. as a Frenchmau.
or the native Of any country where
there is an established heraIdrv coT1IT
secure the privilege Of using the arms
8SIonglng 10 another nation. that is IL
us o .5, warranted IT and he is will
lng 70 pay the Zee. Most Of the Euro
Den countries are satisfied with the
Ine neraldry Of their own nation. how
ever and there are now more q DDIica-
IONS Tor the revival Of English coats
OF arms received from Americans than
from all Of the rest Of the world nut
Noble Lineage Not Necessary.
TO wear arms it is not essential that
a IdHlly De noble, althOughh few Amer
lcans are anxious to claim untitled an
IN England have no title Coats or arms
were originally used to dfstinguish
lhel owners when in armOr on the bat
tteLlell- The College OF Arms NAV de-
sign new decoration for newly en-
nobled families IL they desire b1It 70
americans, the antiquity OF a crest
seems 70 give II Its Greatest value.
The English College OF Arms dates
back to the time of William the Con-
QuerOr The building now in use was
erected upon the site OF the house of
the earl Of Derby who was dfsgraced
in the reign OF queen Mary. 1t stands
IN Victoria street. the only BIT OF an
uqu1ty in a block Of modern buildings
utilized chiefly for commercial offices
The visitor seems to go back two cen
turtles when he enters the paved court
yard OF the old college and looks I'D at
the ancient windows, each of which IS
decorated by an old coat OF arms. BY
some steps. one may look into the old
court Of Honor where cases involving
nera4dlc questions were formerly tried
This has not been used for more Than
a lou years, yet IT is freshly swept and
busted each morning. Its furniture con-
slsls OF long oak benches and an elab-
oLdte4y carved throne Of state. From
the walls hang the banners used in the
coronation Of king George " and
many OLD paintings and coats OF arms.
lncIuoing those Of Charles II. There is
also a fine collection of ANTIQUE hell
IIeIs, most OF which belonged to kings
OF England.
The balance of the building is given
Up to the tracing OF ancestry which is
carried on in a business like manner
The officials are not on a salary but d.
vide the fees received, turning part OF
them over to the crown Inc mead or
the college IS the duke OF NOr1Olk who
bears the oldest title in England he
appoints the other officers, each OF
which receives a historic title and wears
the richest kinds OF robes and decora-
tons on ceremonial occasions such as
Americans May Secure Arms.
Any American who feels sure or his
right to a coat OF arms for his carriage
or a crest for his note paper, may write
directly to the College Of Arms in Vic
toria street London. If possible. he
should address specially one Of the IS
officers These include three kings OF
arms. six heralds and FOUR pufSulVanLS,
any one of which may take the matter
up. The applicant should tell what coat
of arms he thinks he is entitled to and
state who founded his family in Amer
lea Usually he can do this with little
difficulty for the sciOns OF the old
English stock I'm America now have
their ancestry we'll In hand In reply
TO this he viii receive a list OF Ques-
lions covering all points of his gene
alOgy necessary to be filled out. With
these viii be given an estimate of the
expense IL the first sum asked for
is not sufficient to cover the expense,
more will be asked for.
When the pedigree Is complete Il
is copied with great care and MANY
flourishes with the family crest and
coat Of arms blazoned at the ton In
scroll the College Of Arms makes a
charge Of one guinea 1t Is signed by
the Garter King as official and IS
registered In the college records. A
copy is sent to the applicant for franz
ing II he so desires. although to him
the certified pedigree is the fmpOrtanf
thing and a copy Of 1T may be secured
from the college at any time
Canada Has "A College.
In addition TO the English College OF
Arms. there are also special colleges
maintained for ireland and Scotland IN
both OF which the mode OF procedure rs
practically the same Canada has also
a college OF arms which was founded
by Louis XIV in 1884. 1t was confirmed
by the royal commission in 1897 This
college has two representative in the
United States. In Ireland. II IL can be
proved that a family bore arms for
CONTINUED on Next Pagej