MOCK PEERS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3144, 20 November 1922, Page 7

MOCK PEERS.

(By a Male Cynic.)

The recent episode of a young man who dubbed himself earl, and had a fine old spree down in the West, is not very rare, though in justice to this particular imposter it is only fair to say that, unlike most of his kind, he paid his way. But it is curious to note how invariably these mock peers give themselves away by the stupidest mismistakes. Whether they ennoble themselves from sheer love of adventure or. for criminal purposes, you would imagine that at least they would have made themselves familiar, with those lessor matters in which the peer differs from the commoner. Yet it seems as if they considered the mere assumption of a title enough. But, indeed, this is often, sufficient. Generally, however, no long time elapses before some tiny error in behavior or deportment brings the police on to the seeno. The most extraordinary ignorance is shown, and no attempt seems to be madtei to become, acquainted with ordinary peerage customs. Therei is, for instance 1 , that question of “courtesy” titles. It would be foolish to l call yourself earl or viscount and speak of your sons as Lord George and Lord John. Yet this constantly happens, in spite of the fact that ai glance at any Court Guide would Ira vet prevented the mistake. Similarly, it would bo singularly unwise to refer to your wife as Lady Jane or Lady' Mary, if you wish to be taken for a. member of the House of Lords. Yet I know of a case where a plausible scoundrel obtained large sums of money on the strength of having usurped a well-known peer’s name, who announced that his eldest son, “Sir James,” would Ire shortly arriving: in his hotel. Moreover, if the impostor is artist enough to have coronets blazoned on his luggage, it is rare for the coronet to correspond with the rank he has assumed. A marquis does not sport a baron’s coronet on his trunks, or vice versa. And if, as sometimes happens, ho is rash enough to show an order on his evening clothes, lie rarely manages to wear it correctly. More important, however, is the signature. In.the hotel visitors’ book it would be perfectly correct for the mock peer to describe himself and his wife as “Lord and Lady Oxbridge,” but when funds are running low, and it is necessary for him to cash a cheque through the obsequious manager, he rarely remembers that peers sign no more than their titles. “Lord Oxbridge” on acheque is quite enough to rouse the gravest suspicions. Similarly “Lady Oxbridge” or “Lady .lane” at the end of a letter in place of the usual “Jane Oxbridge” will certainly pave the way to an unwelcome visit from the police. Yet even the most daring impostors seem unwilling to Learn these elementary matters. The truth is, I expect, that their ideas of the peerage have been obtained from the films, where cheques are frequently signed “Earl of Oxbridge,” and poignant letters endorsed “Lady .Jane,” and where, indeed, if the film be of American origin, tho most ludicrous mistakes both of nomenclature and behavior pass unnoticed.