SPURIOUS TITLES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3218, 16 June 1909, Page 3

SPURIOUS TITLES.

How the fine flower of title-wor-ship flourishes in the (theoretically) chilled atmosphere of republicanism is amusingly shown by the Paris correspondent of London "Truth." M. Pichon, Minister for Foreign Affairs recently issued a circular ordering all members of the diplomatic service who bear titles, or use the prefix "de," to prove their claim to these aristocratic distinctions. According to the correspondent, three-fourths of those who use these marks of class are unable to prove their righ'", to do so. Ministers, secretaries of Embassies, even an Ambassador are placed in the extremely embarassing position of being shown to be using spurious nobiliary names. Already there have been several resignations Df yourg diplomatists, who prefer their assumed visiiing-card distinctions to the remote chance of rising high in their profession. A title, however spurious, with the impressive words "lix-attacne de Legation," might, in the coars2 language of the correspondent, "1)2 a good hook in the United States wherewith to land an heiress." Astonishing devices are used to give an air of genuineness to assumed titles or prefixes. A fairly common one among well-to-do folk is for a married ptir, wh-n they expect an addition to their family, to go to some quiet country town where, they are not knovn. and locL{e there in tho best style, subscribing. freely to charities, and inviting the mayor and his wife to dinner. When the child comes it is registered with a "da" or perhaps a title, and when it grows up the birth certificate will be accepted by notaries as proof of noble standing. An aspirant to aristocratic rank may bribe a tradesman to sue him as a comte or marquis, or direct shopkeepers to address parcels to him by one of these titles. The English, of course, are not free fr.im blame in this respect. The correspondent knew of an English family, all the sons of which were christened "Baron," with other names, and the daughters "Lady," also with other names, borrowed trom the "Court Circular" and the fashionable news in the "Morning Post." "Without fear of being caught as irnposters, they could figure as cersons of noble birth at fjreign watering-places."