3i8 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



a high mark is to receive a distinction, temporary perhaps, but none 

 the less acceptable, and often stimulating, even if a high price has not 

 been paid for it. All of us love to have others in sympathy with us, 

 to receive expressions of esteem and to present testimonials of success. 

 The supply becomes gradually adapted to the demand ; and the demand 

 causes all titles and distinctions to become more common, continually 

 cheaper, until at last their meaning becomes merely nominal. To be 

 nominally distinguished becomes the rule; to fail of such distinction 

 becomes a disgrace. 



In primitive society all government is the outcome of military 

 organization. Aristocracy is originally based on brute force, and titles 

 are the evidence of privilege accorded by the warrior chieftain in return 

 for allegiance and military service. The assumption of a title without 

 his consent is an act of rebellion and is treated as such by an absolute 

 ruler. Limited monarchies have always been slow in development, and 

 have in every case retained some features derived from the early estab- 

 lishment of caste fixed by privilege. The system of hereditary aristoc- 

 racy which constitutes the groundwork of organization in English 

 society is sustained by laws that could never have sprung originally 

 from a democracy. Every Englishman knows his station. If he has 

 not a place among the aristocracy by birth, he may still indulge the 

 hope of admission to the charmed circle by royal favor. To call him- 

 self a lord, or to accept such a title by courtesy of his friends, or to 

 buy it from some self-appointed college of heraldry would subject him 

 at once to ridicule and social ostracism, even if he were not subject to 

 prosecution for violation of long-established law. The mere fact of 

 social organization imposes restraints upon personal liberty, but re- 

 straints that are deemed light in proportion to the general recognition 

 of their reasonableness, justice and necessity. Personal liberty is, all 

 in all, probably as nearly universal in England as it is in America, 

 but the subjects in which limitation is imposed are somewhat different 

 in the two countries. Titles and distinctions are granted in England 

 in accordance with a well organized system, not theoretically perfect, 

 but well enough established to be liable to but little misunderstanding. 

 A colonel or a professor has no reason to fear ridicule in virtue of in- 

 discriminate use of the title. 



In America since the settlement at Jamestown there has been no 

 basis for titles except the will of the more or less uninstructed people. 

 Education was long exceedingly restricted. Aristocracy was based 

 partly on personal character and partly on family influence, but never 

 on legal prescription. There was no army requiring educated officers. 

 A militia colonel was elected by his friends, and the title thus con- 

 ferred by them was a possession for life. Throughout many parts of 

 the south to-day by common consent a man is called colonel in virtue 



