Not long ago a Westerner, who went abroad with a travelling show, was received with enthusiasm in England because it was thought "The Honorable" which preceded his name on his cards implied that although an American he was somehow the son of an earl.As a matter of fact he owed this title to having sat, many years before in the Senate of a far-western State.He will cling to that "Honorable" and print it on his cards while life lasts.I was told the other day of an American carpet warrior who appeared at court function abroad decorated with every college badge, and football medal in his possession, to which he added at the last moment a brass trunk check, to complete the brilliancy of the effect.This latter decoration attracted the attention of the Heir Apparent, who inquired the meaning of the mystic "416" upon it.This would have been a "facer" to any but a true son of Uncle Sam.Nothing daunted, however, our "General" replied "That, Sir, is the number of pitched battles I have won."I have my doubts as to the absolute veracity of this tale.But that the son of one of our generals, appeared not long ago at a public reception abroad, wearing his father's medals and decorations, is said to be true.Decorations on the Continent are official badges of distinction conferred and recognized by the different governments.An American who wears, out of his own country, an army or college badge which has no official existence, properly speaking, being recognized by no government, but which is made intentionally to look as much as possible like the "Legion d'Honneur," is deliberately imposing on the ignorance of foreigners, and is but little less of a pretentious idiot than the owners of the trunk check and the borrowed decorations.
There seems no end to the ways a little ambitious game can be played.One device much in favor is for the wife to attach her own family name to that of her husband by means of a hyphen.By this arrangement she does not entirely lose her individuality; as a result we have a splendid assortment of hybrid names, such as Van Cortland-Smith and Beekman-Brown.Be they never so incongruous these double-barrelled cognomens serve their purpose and raise ambitious mortals above the level of other Smiths and Browns.