The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-10-27
TIE LEGION OF HONOR.
A Description of the Orsaer-The Present
Legion.

The order of the Legion Of Honor was instt--
tgted by Napoleon Bonaparte In 1909. as q set set
off to the old orders WHICH were bestowed by
to have for q time at least, created O new nobil-
ty. Conferred at first, only on soldiers who had
or on men who had gained distinction in litera-
ture art or politics. it soon began to be abused,
and was made powerful engine OF politieal
corruption. On this account 1t to some extent
lostits character. and became the butt for ridi-
cue on the part Of men Of spirit and iGdepend-
ence Of oil shades of political opinion. 1t vas
duently amended. but it has been found i'm
possible to permanentlyz, do away with it.
that, whatever its abuses may have
been, the number of men distinguished in war,
poG bad art End goene f Hcb Th4 nave
not be etYaced by parliamentary enactments.
The government Of Nationall, Defence sup
eerned, and the Communists a few months
later burned down the palace. of the order, but
France would not do Without it., and new law
stance, it was decreed that the government
should not have the power to decorate mem
bers Of either houses of the Legis lature while
they held their seats and that. with q view to
reducing the number OF members. only two ap
pointments should be made for eve every three ya-
years. At the time this law was INTRODUCED q
subscription was set on foot by the Grand Chan
CellOr OF tn6 Oru6r, Uen. FlnOy, I'D Teuulu tue
palace and new building soon arose out of
funds collected entirely from members OF the
Legion.
THE PRESENT LEGION.
The Legion of Honor at present contains
about 100 600 members. the majority Of whom
are chevaiiers or knights. Next In order Of
numbers come the officers. then the command
crosses. In the case Of soldiers and sailors, the
red ribbon confers @ pension varying between
$50 for knights and $1,000 for grand Crosses but
civilians get nothing but the right to wear the
insignia for which they are bound to pay fees.
tonhole when he is In civilians. clothes: and o
silver mounted cross when he is in uniform !;
the officer wears rosette when in multi and g
gold-mounted cross IN uniform, and It. should
be added that the officers rosette Is worn by
morning dress. In evening dress or uniform,
however. the commanders wear O red collar
with cross pendent; the grand officers sport a
collar with q star on the left breast,
star and . broad 2 moire red ribbon
navy the cross Is generally given as a matter Of
right after twenty years OF good conduct and
so it is to certain members of the civil service,
such as consuls. sub projects, public prose-
must have deserved 1t many times over, and
the dozen ladies who have it are heroines in
deed. Artists, authors. inventors and men Of
genius generally may be decorated on the re-
commendation Of one or other OF the Cabinet
Ministers, who make out a list twice or thrice a
year and are generally, happy enough to haye
the honor of recommending celebrities" No
one can wear the decoration who has been in
trouble with the law courts, and whose antece-
dents are not. conventionaly at least ire
may be accepted as a certificate of honesty as
we'll as merit.