The Birthday List of Honours published on Monday is very
long and decidedly dull. There are no surprises and no gratifications of public opinion. The King's advisers have apparently thought that it would be well to scatter titular distinctions among men who have served the State or the com- munity well in obscure and laborious positions, and we dare say they are right. In an age of advertising the crave for honours has become, as all Ministers know, a positive passion; and it is well that useful though undistinguished men, since they wish it, should have their share. We regret, nevertheless, to see honours, which should be incentives to good service, so much cheapened, and especially object to the creation of new and comparatively valueless Orders. The chiefs of the mercantile marine, for example, are at least as worthy of distinction as other officials, and might have been admitted to the older Orders without derogating from the estimation in which they are held. We doubt, we may add in passing, the utility of creating Orders which carry no title. Englishmen are fond of distinctions, but as a rule they are not fond of wearing stars.
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