The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-06-24
THE PRESS.
Decorations in Germany.
Continental Times.l

continental Times.l
One of the most popular proverbs In the
Realm of the Black and Red Eagles is the fol-
lowing: ''There are three affections from
which no well-conducted Prussian can hope to
escape-Death, the tax-gatherer and the
Fourth Glass of the Red Eagle" The point of
this Jest is somewhat blunted by the fact that
no well-conducted Prussian dreamsof avoiding
the conferment of the decoration in question,
or is, indeed, when once possessed of it, in the
least averse to sporting it in public upon every
occasion affording him the senderest pretext
for so doing. Failing obtension of the Prus-
sian Red Eagle, more reluctant bird than the
above quoted proverb would seem to indicate,
the irrepressible aspirant to chivalric honors
would proudly clasp to his bosom the Blue
Cuckoo or other heraldic monster Of Reuss-
iz-Lobenstein-Gera, if he can get
it; and having by the payment of a trifling fee
secured his own native rulers gracious per-
mission to accept and wear the insignia of that
illustrious Order, will cause his new title to
be engraved upon his visiting cards in some
such ford formula as this: "Mr. Upper Privy
Architectural Councillor Johann Schmidt,
Knight of the Transparent Princely Reuss-
z-Schleiz-L obenstein- Geranian Blue Cuck-
90 Order of the Fourth Glass, with the Rib
and" Having by this act-at least in his own
opinion-achieved the goal of just and noble
ambition, he is tolerably happy until it occurs
to him that life in his social position, is but
hollow mockery whilst unblest by possession
of the Cross Third Glass, Civil Division) of
the Orange-Tawny Woodpecker of Saxe-Mein-
-Hildeburg -hausen-J ilch- Cleven-bergeD,
upon the Diaphanous Duke of which polytitu-
lar realm he has some more or less gen uine or
spurious claim for ALL Serenest recognition.
Beset by this fresh craving, he indefatigably
stalks the Woodpecker until its miniature eff
gy, in metal ana enamel, hangs by the side OF
the Cuckoo from his buttonhole; and so his
appetite for distinction growing by what it
feeds upon, he perSAveres in his crusade until
half the birds and beasts that went into the
Ark are suspended in glittering array from
the particolored ribbons sewn on to the front
of his coat
Next to Prince Bismarck, the most lavishly
decorated German ever met was one w. Hoff
the patentee OF a surprisingly Hygeian liquid,
yclept Extract of Malt whose elaborate col
lection of Imperial, Royal, Ducal and Princely
Crosses serves as a highly telling advertise
ment for the nutritive and refreshing tonic
from which he derives an uncommonly comfor-
table income. Hof, in his turn, is all but
equalled as a champion crusader by Wertheim,
another acquaintance of mine, the inventor of
Fire-proof Safe that appears to have asserted
irrefutable claims upon all the sovereigns of
Continental Europe for recognition of its mer
its in the shape of chivalric confefment. Some
years ago my old friend DIR. Giskra, at that
time Minister of State in Vienna, asked me
to dinner one day to meet number of Austri-
an commercial celebrities. was amongst the
earlier arrivals, and, whilst standing near the
drawing room door, chatting to that most &C.
centric of bankers, Baron Hennikstein, Lheard
a faint tinkling, as of fairy sledge bells upon
the landing outside. "What may that strange
sound be?" inquired of my companion, a liv-
ing encyclopedia of Viennese Oddities
THAT" gravely replied the Baron, sis the
jingling Of Wertheim's decorations. He wears
them strung upon golden chains all over his
chest-not the fire-proof one-and, as you hear,
the chimes rung by his crosses announce his
advnnt from afar -