Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-09-26
THE LEGION OF HONOR.

Mr.. John Dely, Mayor of the city of
Cork, has been decorated with the cross
of the Legion of Honor, as recognition
of the humanity shown by the corpora
ton over which be presides in sending
succor to the French wounded during the
late war. Some particulars in regard to
an order whose name is SO familiar to the
public may not be uninteresting
1t is said that one day when Napoleon,
then first consul, was looking out of the
window of the Tuileries, he saw an i'm
mense crowd in the court yard gazing
with admiration at the Austrian ambassa-
dor and his suite, whose coats were blaz-
ing with the stars and crosses of the
various orders to which they belonged.
At that time such insignia were forbidden
to French citizens, but the shrewd
soldier saw here an element which
could be made available as a val
liable assistant in the accomplishment
of his ambitious designs. Accordingly
in 1902, he brought forward proposition
for the formation of the Legion of Honor
"a society which was then said to have
for its main object the preservation of
Republican principles and the laws of
equality. It's membership was to be con-
ferred upon those who had gained dis
tinction in military, naval or civil life,
without any reference to their social an
tecedents, whether sristocrstic or plebe-
ian. The proposition was strongly op-
posed in the legislative body, and finally
carried by only very small majority.
As originally arranged, the Legion of
Honor embraced three classes-grand
officers, commanders snd legionaries; but
at the coronation of Napoleon the first
named class was divided into knights of
the grand eagle and grand officers-the
former being the highest grade. The
Emperor always wore the decoration, and
frequently conferred it with his own
hands on the field of battle upon soldiers
whose Valor had been specially conspicu-
OUs. At the restoration of the Bour-
bons, in 1915, the order was modi-
fed and lost much of its distinctive char
acter. The eagles were transformed into
crosses, the efigy of Henry " took the
place of that of Napoleon, the legionaries
were called knights, and the educational
institutions intended for the benefit of the
children and relatives of the members
were much reduced in number and de-
prived of many OF their privileges. When
Napoleon became President of the
republic, portion of the con-
6scated property Of Louis PHILIPPE
was set aside for the endowment of
the Legion, and the original features
were as far as possible revived. The
decoration under the second empire con-
sisted of q cross of ten points of white |
enamel, edged with gold, the points being |
with wreath of laurel, and in |
The centre of an azure circle besring the |
words "NopOLeOn III, Emperor des
was a head of the EN-
Deror. The cross was ensigned with the
imperial crown of France and worn attach
ID to q red ribbon. The grand officers
wore on the right breast silver star,
charged with the imperial eagle. and the
Iame star was worn on the left breast by
he Knights Grand Cross, their crosses
icing suspended to a broad red ribbon
passing over the right shoulder. II is
that since the downfall of the
'luplIC, oil dhOCo VI iALpCllalA6iA Ia VIC |
legion and its ornaments have been
,blitersted, but we are not aware what
mblems have taken their place.
Owing to the lavish distribution of
IN former days, the Legion
# Honor became for time of insigHif-
ant value; but since 1851 only one nom-
nation has been made for every two va
ancies. The College of the Legion has
large fund, out of which pensions are
'sld to knights and legionaries wounded
q battle, or who have suffered the ampu-
alton of limb while in military or naval
ervice. These pensions have occasion
lily reached as high a figure as
tx million francs annually. Under
be existing regulations, candidates for
be Legion must have served for twenty
ears in some mility or civil capacitsry,o or
distinguished themselves by bravery or
ard service in time of war. Two dis
are made each year-soldiers
eceiving their nominations on parade,
Williams in the courts of justice. No ig-
ominious punishment can be- inflicted
pom member as long as he is in fellow
hip with the order, and 10 native of
rance can receive the higher honors
7ithout having passed through the inter-
lediate grades.