Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1916 — COSTS MONEY TO BE PEER [ARTICLE]

COSTS MONEY TO BE PEER

London Society Interested in Beeing if New Ones Will "Give Up” for Regalia. London.—ln these days of war economy society is interested to see whether the newly created peers will go to the expense of purchasing full regalia of their rank in the peerage. The principal item in the bill is the coronet, which the owner may not have a single opportunity of wearing during the rest of his life. The market price of a coronet of 18-carat gold, with a jeweled cushion, is about $2,500. A viscount’s coronet is surrounded by 16 small pearls, while a baron’s is set with six large ones. Another expensive item is the robe of scarlet ahd ermine, the cost of which varies from S2OO to $250. This is a necessary purchase, as it has to be worn when the new peer makes his debut in the upper chamber. The particular rank in the peerage is de-

noted by the number of bars of ermine which traverse the robe from back to front. The stripes of ermine which appear to divide the mantle are supposed to Indicate that it has been torn while the wearer was engaged in mortal combat , on the field of battle. Another $250 or more is needed for the fees of patent of nobility, and for the preparation of crests and other armorial bearings.