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DOES THE RACE OF MAN LOVE A LORD？
Often a quite assified remark becomes sanctified by use and
petrified by custom； it is then a permanency； its term of activity
a geologic period。
The day after the arrival of Prince Henry I met an English friend；
and he rubbed his hands and broke out with a remark that was charged
to the brim with joyjoy that was evidently a pleasant salve
to an old sore place：
〃Many a time I've had to listen without retort to an old saying
that is irritatingly true； and until now seemed to offer no chance
for a return jibe： 'An Englishman does dearly love a lord'；
but after this I shall talk back； and say； 'How about the Americans？'〃
It is a curious thing； the currency that an idiotic saying can get。
The man that first says it thinks he has made a discovery。
The man he says it to； thinks the same。 It departs on its travels；
is received everywhere with admiring acceptance； and not only as
a piece of rare and acute observation； but as being exhaustively
true and profoundly wise； and so it presently takes its place
in the world's list of recognized and established wisdoms；
and after that no one thinks of examining it to see whether it is
really entitled to its high honors or not。 I call to mind instances
of this in two well…established proverbs； whose dullness is not
surpassed by the one about the Englishman and his love for a lord：
one of them records the American's Adoration of the Almighty Dollar；
the other the American millionaire…girl's ambition to trade cash for
a title； with a husband thrown in。
It isn't merely the American that adores the Almighty Dollar；
it is the human race。 The human race has always adored the hatful
of shells； or the bale of calico； or the half…bushel of brass rings；
or the handful of steel fish…hooks； or the houseful of black wives；
or the zareba full of cattle； or the two…score camels and asses；
or the factory； or the farm； or the block of buildings； or the
railroad bonds； or the bank stock； or the hoarded cash； or
anything that stands for wealth and consideration and independence；
and can secure to the possessor that most precious of all things；
another man's envy。 It was a dull person that invented the idea
that the American's devotion to the dollar is more strenuous than
another's。
Rich American girls do buy titles； but they did not invent that idea；
it had been worn threadbare several hundred centuries before America
was discovered。 European girls still exploit it as briskly as ever；
and； when a title is not to be had for the money in hand； they buy
the husband without it。 They must put up the 〃dot；〃 or there is
no trade。 The commercialization of brides is substantially universal；
except in America。 It exists with us； to some little extent；
but in no degree approaching a custom。
〃The Englishman dearly loves a lord。〃
What is the soul and source of this love？ I think the thing could
be more correctly worded：
〃The human race dearly envies a lord。〃
That is to say； it envies the lord's place。 Why？ On two accounts；
I think： its Power and its Conspicuousness。
Where Conspicuousness carries with it a Power which； by the light
of our own observation and experience； we are able to measure
and comprehend； I think our envy of the possessor is as deep and as
passionate as is that of any other nation。 No one can care less
for a lord than the backwoodsman； who has had no personal contact
with lords and has seldom heard them spoken of； but I will not
allow that any Englishman has a profounder envy of a lord than has
the average American who has lived long years in a European capital
and fully learned how immense is the position the lord occupies。
Of any ten thousand Americans who eagerly gather； at vast inconvenience；
to get a glimpse of Prince Henry； all but a couple of hundred
will be there out of an immense curiosity； they are burning up
with desire to see a personage who is so much talked about。
They envy him； but it is Conspicuousness they envy mainly； not the
Power that is lodged in his royal quality and position； for they
have but a vague and spectral knowledge and appreciation of that；
though their environment and associations they have been accustomed
to regard such things lightly； and as not being very real； consequently；
they are not able to value them enough to consumingly envy them。
But； whenever an American （or other human being） is in the presence；
for the first time； of a combination of great Power and Conspicuousness
which he thoroughly understands and appreciates； his eager curiosity
and pleasure will be well…sodden with that other passionenvy
whether he suspects it or not。 At any time； on any day； in any part
of America； you can confer a happiness upon any passing stranger
by calling his attention to any other passing stranger and saying：
〃Do you see that gentleman going along there？ It is Mr。 Rockefeller。〃
Watch his eye。 It is a combination of power and conspicuousness
which the man understands。
When we understand rank； we always like to rub against it。
When a man is conspicuous； we always want to see him。 Also； if he
will pay us an attention we will manage to remember it。 Also； we
will mention it now and then； casually； sometimes to a friend；
or if a friend is not handy； we will make out with a stranger。
Well； then； what is rank； and what is conspicuousness？ At once we
think of kings and aristocracies； and of world…wide celebrities
in soldierships； the arts； letters； etc。； and we stop there。
But that is a mistake。 Rank holds its court and receives its homage
on every round of the ladder； from the emperor down to the rat…catcher；
and distinction； also； exists on every round of the ladder；
and commands its due of deference and envy。
To worship rank and distinction is the dear and valued privilege
of all the human race； and it is freely and joyfully exercised
in democracies as well as in monarchiesand even； to some extent；
among those creatures whom we impertinently call the Lower Animals。
For even they have some poor little vanities and foibles； though in
this matter they are paupers as compared to us。
A Chinese Emperor has the worship of his four hundred millions
of subjects； but the rest of the world is indifferent to him。
A Christian Emperor has the worship of his subjects and of a large
part of the Christian world outside of his domains； but he is
a matter of indifference to all China。 A king； class A； has an
extensive worship； a king； class B； has a less extensive worship；
class C； class D； class E get a steadily diminishing share of worship；
class L （Sultan of Zanzibar）； class P （Sultan of Sulu）； and class W
（half…king of Samoa）； get no worship at all outside their own little
patch of sovereignty。
Take the distinguished people along down。 Each has his group
of homage…payers。 In the navy； there are many groups； they