‘Where nigh at hand 
Celestial armory, shields, helms and spears, 
: Hang high.’’ 
Even the Bible may be read with a larger interest com- 
ined with a knowledge of heraldry. 
It is invaluable in its fanciful, poetical, yet preecical 
way of distinguishing family groups in a realm. Any-. 
thing so simple and attractive for preserving the his- 
torical integrity of families and that distinguishes an 
individual as an individual, stamping thus his identity 
and preserving it, is of real value to the race. In her- 
aldry a man is framed in a picturesque setting and adds 
semething to it in every worthy achievement. In the 
evolution of the race this science is essential in perpetu- 
ating honorable men and deeds, great families, eccle- 
siology and history itself in a more enduring form than 
any statue in granite pose. ‘‘Aere perennius,’’ as 
Horace says, for posterity will immortalize its own when 
time will obliterate the tale in bronze. 
With the family escutcheon the utilitarians have dug 
up inheritances and old-world estates and these chant 
the praises of heraldry. Old armorial bearings alone 
have in certain cases established the claim when nothing 
else could be fully established. 
Here then is a poetic phase of human history, an em- 
bellishment of war, a plume of valor, and the real 
spice of social distinction. Here is a field for exploring 
“not simply as a pastime and gratification for family 
pride, but a field of science of incalculable interest and 
of value to history and the evolution of the tree. 
The pride of ancestry is innate. No democracy can 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE 7 
ever eradicate it. If it did democracy would be social 
degeneracy. Of the commoner it may be said, ‘‘ Avito 
viret honore.’? No one disputes the proposition that 
“‘he who eareth not whence he came careth little whith- 
er he goeth.’’ To despise ancestry is a pride that in 
sulgarity surpasses all other pride. No one with the 
slightest claims to a noble ancestry should slight it. 
When any one does or sneers at the ancestral pride of 
others it is safe to say they are ignorant of descent and 
envious of others. Montaigne has expressed it forcibly 
in the words—‘‘If we cannot attain greatness ourselves, 
let us have our revenge by railing at others.’ 
‘“Cromwell and his followers effected to ridicule the 
dignity which a long and unbroken line of ancestry 
conferred.’’ But there was no one when he ascended 
to power that was such a stickler for precedence and 
for assuming royal robes and attributes to his death and 
even burial as Cromwell. The French Revolution that 
abrogated all social rank and peerage attempted to re- 
construct. it—not with the material evolving for cen- 
turies, but out of the social debris of the gutters. 
The ‘‘clarum et venerable nomen’’ is not to be dis- 
pised but highly valued and cherished. A coat of arms 
achieved by valorous ancestors is a legacy beyond price. 
The consciousness of illustrious descent should prove 
an inspiration and a power to the soul not only to 
vmulate past deeds of greatness, not only to sustain a 
family escutcheon in its glory, but to even rise superior 
to it. If so great and good a result follow, any trace of 
pride it contains may be forgiven. 
SOCIETY NOTES 
‘The W. L. Putnams are closing their home at Smith’s 
Point and returning to Boston this week. 
The families of James F. Sheldon of Belmont, Mass., 
and Jacob C. Rogers of New York were to remain 
through this week at their Mystery Isles cottages. 
Secretary of the Navy George Von L. Meyer, who is 
inspecting naval stations, arrived in Seattle last Sunday. 
Mrs. Robert 8S. Bradley and Miss Leslie Bradley of 
Pride’s, who are abroad, are now in Berlin. 
Mr. and Mrs. Edw. Moore (nee Miss McGinley) are 
receiving congratulations on the birth of a daughter 
Tuesday. 
Mrs. H. M. Curry and family of Pittsburg are late 
sojourners at Magnolia as usual. 
BE. C. Fitch and family of West Manchester returned 
to their Boston home Wednesday. 
Henry P. King left Pride’s this week for a hunting 
trip in Canada. Mrs. King will be absent from Pride’s 
also while her husband is away. 
October finds North Shore society in a very festive 
mood, dining, visiting and entertaining and exhibiting 
the autumn glories to their sojourning friends, and the 
drives are still filled with smart turnouts and motor cars. 
Friday the James H. Proctors entertained a dinner 
company of fifteen at their Beverly cottage, and Satur- 
day they entertained a dinner party of eighteen covers. 
Mr. Wallace of Boston is their guest. They will not 
leave Beverly Cove until the last of October. 
Friday evening there was a dinner party at the Wen- 
ham summer home of Amory G. Hodges and Sunday 
‘‘Cranleigh’’ again extended its hospitality to a dinner 
company of five. 
Mrs. D. Herbert Hostetter gave an afternoon tea on 
Monday. 
Grand Opera House, Boston, Week of Oct. 17th 
100 
NIGHTS IN NEW YORK 
100 
Preston Gibson’s Great American Drama 
“THE TURNING POINT” 
Direct from Its Successful Run at the Hackett Theatre, New York City 
“IT WINS!” . 
New York Sun. 
