Evening star., 1922-11-19
'3-A-PENNY DUKES
NOW COME HIGH
British Public Stirred Up
Over Charge That Peer
ages Are Sold.
BY HAROLD E. SCARBOROUGH.
By Cable to The Star and New York Tribune

By HAHOLD Es SSAHbOfkOV I'll.
By Cable to The star and New York Tribune.
Copyright, 1927
LONDON. November 1s.-"And
Dukes Were Three a Penny" sang
Don Alhambra, the grand inquisitor.
in Gilbert's The Gondoliers." but
those were pre-war prices. because
in these days the quotation for even
modest baronetcy is listed at 10000
pounds sterling. and in lieu of SEN
sational divorce trials or blood d-curd-
ling murder mysteries. the great
British public has become most keen
ly Interested in what. by more or less
common consent. is being termed
THE great honors scandal"
Every now and then. when things
are fairly dull. some one In England
remembers that there ought to be
some scandals in high life which
would need raking over. Now the
average man in the street in London.
that tho sale Of peerages and kni Ght-
hoods long has been recognized in
stitution just as the American Will
say that all congressman are corrupt.
naturally lacks definite proof Of his
charge. just as does the American.
be proof is brought forward he gets
excited about 1t and demands an In
quiry.
Prints ~Disclosure."
The Morning Post" has come into
the open with something. 1t must be
confessed, in the manner Of that
stunt press" which it affects so to
despise.
Its bombshell takes the form Of a
letter from the Duke of Northumber-
land, who produced. or seemed to
produce. a concrete example OF that
much haunted but little known indi-
vidual. the honors broker. According
pie Of the beginning of the process
Of turning commoner into a no
bleman:"
Letter Seeks Interview.
3e Wilton place, Knights Bridge.
S. w /. 10th March. 1922.
Dear Sir: l am requested to place
before you a social matter OF very
confidential nature which 1t is Thought
NAV be Of interest to you. Will you
kindly let me know whether you can
suggest a meeting within the next
few days in London or elsewhere?
cannot put more in letter. Yours
faithfully. H. SHAW.
find out who l am. 1 am we'll known
THE gentleman in the postscript
the Duke of Northumberland commented
! 'is a very well known and highly re-
| spected baronet."
Wanted 10000 Pounds.
! Mr.. Shaw's registered telegraphlc ad'
| dress, which is Doorway, knights Lon
don," should have given the recipients
Of his letter clue to the conndentia
business he wished to discuss. Possibly
however, they overlooked the witticisn
and accepted the knights for what
| prosaically it really is: an abbreviatior
| Of knights Bridge" Anyhow. one OF
them wrote back that he wasn't inter
ested and in return received another
letter from the mysterious Mr.. Shaw
again recommending an interview with
the baronet first mentioned.
"On receipt Of this letter" the duke
| adds, 'he had an interview with the
above mentioned baronet. who Informed
him that the matter referred to IN Mr.
. Shaw's letter was the offer Of an honor
| for which he would have to pay some
/ 10000 pounds sterling. That was the
end Of the matter, SO far as he was
concerned
offered Baronetcy.
Another prospect" however, wa,
moro interested, and went to call or
Mr.. Shaw His account Of the inter
view Is quoted by the duke:
MT. SnaW commenced tne ConVerSd-
ton by telling me that he farmed 2,00t
| acres of his own land and that he was
| running horse in the derby. He ther
| went on to say that my name had beer
mentioned to him as a suitable person
for baronetcy and if agreed he could
get it done in an hour. 1 presume he
meant, put on the list. He said the gov.
| ernment would not last very long, and
| that when Mr.. Lloyd George went tc
the country he wanted funds for con.
| testing certain seats"
I'm the event Of Mr.. Shaw denying
the truth Of these statements" the duke
| concludes, both these gentlemen are
prepared to come forward publicly and
| support them"