The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-15

until a little over nifty years ago every
one OF the sovereigns OF the petty
states into which the peninsula was
then divided were most lavish in their
creation Of hereditary honors The re-
suit Of this was that great mobiles. sucu
as the CO!onnas, the orsinis The Ma
simus, sc, d!sdained TO make any use
of their titles, approaching full well thd-
these could add no lustre TO their his
turiC names. To this day they are con.
tent with the mere prefix Of Don or
bona 20 their Christian names. be.Ls
most punctilious however, about aO.
,.ri.uE the fun title to those Whose
nob.llary honors are of modern origin.
IL Is much the same with tn. "a
..rande2zd of spain. In that country.
as In Italy. Crown and Governmtlt
have during the last ten or fifteen years
united in taking steps TO check the mIl-
tpIicity Of titles. and thanks to lcg...
lat.on of a drastic nature enacted %,
Rome and al Madrid no such disl.u.-
ton can be used until the bearer hl.
received the sanction of the Crown
which j. only granted after the Ro,U
Department OF Heraldry has satisfied
itself 10y careful investigation of the
validity and OF the ownership of the
honor, and has duly received It's heavy
registration fee. In Spain these ices
are of so onerous a character that mans
noDlos on inheriting titles prefer TO
permit them to remain in allegiance ana
10 refrain from adopting them rarrs'
than pay the taxes thereon.
In Austria titles are Of little account
unless possessed in conjunction with 6
long lineage wholly noble and free from
any bourgeois strain. An ancestry OF
this nature IL Indispensable to member
ship OF the court circle at Vienna e.
pecially where women are concerned
and ttSe, even when It is thai ~
Prince, Is OF little or no value in Austria
and Hungary when It's bearer remains
barred from court through lack Of tho
requisite genealogical qualifications
with regard to France II is a mistake
To imagine that titles OF nobility hav.
been abolished by the republic rru.
the latter does not create any suc'
honors. But II recognizes those VII .r
| have been lawfully inherited Inderd
1t requires their registration by tho
Keeper of the Great Seal OF Franc.
who Is likewise the Minister Of Justice
on their inheritance. BEFORE the Keep
OF the Great Seal consents 10 register
L
restigatirn, and II IL only when he ras
satisfied himself that II has been lav
| fully inherited ana not usurped Cha.
| ne authorizes It's use. Titles that have
not passed the Great Seal OF France ,r
! inheritance cannot be used In ..u
official or public document under ST.. Opt.
| penalties.
The laws stu In existence, dating
! from PRIOR TO the great revolution. a.r
1 confirmed by the National Lcgis.ut .rs
during the rtigns of the Bourbon E''-s
ana OF the TWO emperors In the n .if.
| tetnth Century-laws that have u...-
been repealed-provide that utl,s
! nobility can only descend IN ord,r
| primogenlture. In the male line ar,
| ana that their possession is resll...
TO the senior heir. and cannot be o.
trihuted among several heirs As Co.,.
however rs titles that have .,.
usurped, are not used m utrcal q.
public docums nts. or for purpose.
! fraud. the French Government r,fr..
! IRON Interference and II IA To- M,
must he attributed the many tnou...
OF cases in France, OF titles being n.r
without warrant
In conclusion, II may be well @.
stress on the TACT that in no Cul.
!" ope upes me acquisition OF
castle or landed estate cndow t.
SCISSOR with a title OF nobility. a,th
In Germany the alienation of ta..
estates sometimes involves tne tuT'
ure of titles. Nor Is there any GOA.
in Europe whore such nonors r.r
transmitted by adoption Taor
certain circumstances under - To-
man after fulfilling the necessary .r..
! requirements, can transmit his md.
Ia an adopted heir, but never nj. I'd.
In fact, the only means by which
Is possible nowadays for a man O. {.
! tain tile valid Ia law aud villa.
any special grant from mousr,.
Government, IL hy marrying "A 81.
| woman, who, II soc heir,ss OF IT,, I.
| lly honors, has the right Co. .U
herewith her husband. no matte
be subject of King Alfonso or a.
zen OF the United States.