Nobles in Novels.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 7, 17 February 1909, Page 46

Nobles in Novels.

A gentle hint to those society novelists who give their characters noble rank is offered by the editor of "Debrett’s Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage the 196th issue of which has just appeared. "How few,” says the editor, "take the trouble, when introducing titled personages into their books, to verify the proper titles and relationship! "If only they would procure a 'Debrett’ and consult it before putting pen to paper, they would avoid some of the more glaring errors which may be found in almost any novel introducing titles into its pages. "And these mistakes are not by any means confined to new or obscure authors, those of well-known name being also frequently found tripping. "Either the courtesy title does not fit the peerage referred to, or the succession to the title indicated is wholly impossible; or. again, tlie same character in the novel is designated by various titles in different parts of the book.” "Debrett” also contains a little statement which will be of considerable interest to students of heraldry. While armorial bearings are given by the hundred, and “revised by the nobility and aristocracy,” it is mentioned that quite a number of members of the Royal Family have no armorial bearings at all. The Queen had none of her own until recently, when the College of Heralds officially issued them—the arms of England impaled with those of Her Majesty as a Princess of Denmark. Many royal personages have, however, had no such arms is-ued. and as they cannot bear the arms of England (which are arms of dominion) without a properly authorised mark of “difference” they have no coat of arms at all.