Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-08
Stars. Crosses and Ribands.


1t Is noticeable feature in the social and DO
litical life of the present generation that the
love of stars and crosses is decidedly on the in
crease Till the time of James II. the kings of
England had but single decoration to bestow,
and the number of Knights of the Garter was
even more restricted then than now. The
means at the kings disposal for rewarding merit
consisted chiefly of ordinary knighthood, of
hereditary titles and of pensions. Knights of the
Bath, indeed, Charles II. created at his corona
tion-they were the last who took the official
Datn-Dut these mad no badge to mark them
from other knights. The kings natural
sons formed strong minority of the
blue rbands. Admrals like Penn. Mings
and Marlborough had to be content with
the simple accolade; diplomatist
like Temple with baronetsy. For the master
piece of the Triple Alliance the last received no
reward whatever. James III. revived the Order
OF the Thistle. the original number of knights
being eight, which Anne increased to twelve.
Walpole revived the Order of the Bath. which
was to consist OF thirty-tive knights, to be dis
tinguished by star and red riband. Shortly
after Swift told the world how the King of Lii
| iput decorated with blue, red and green threads
those OF his cOurtiers who jumped highest. But
the real difficulty at first was to get men to
accept the red riband. The minister took it him
self to set the example, and offered it to the old
Duchess OF Marlborough for her grandson. ''NO."
said Sarah, ''He must have the Carter" Wal
pole replied that the best way to get the higher
decoration was to accept the lesser; but Atossa
was not easy to convince Till the year 1915 no
further additions were made to the orders Of
British chivary, though George III. created an
Irish order, and wanted to institute another,
TO DE styled 'Of Minerva" for men of letters
vealed SO terrible an imbrOgio of ealOusies
and factions among the persons whom it was
designed to benefit that the monarch, for very
peace was fan to give up the idea. A favorite
method OF recOmpense under the Georgian pc
Rod, down to the time of the Union. was to
confer an Irish peerage Give was thus hon
ored, and encouraged to hope for an English
title as further promotion. Similarly, till the
union with Scotland, Scotch titles had been
stepping stones to more serious English honors.
MarlbOrOugh's earliest reward had been q Scotch
barOny, conferred on him when he had no higher
military rank than that of colonel.
10 George, Prince Regent, and to Lord Liver
pool we owe the present SYSTEM which causes
mans greatness to be known by the number of
letters of the alphabet he can place after his
name. The Bath was divided into classes. and
the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order founded
at the same time, with an equal number of
classes. The same Prince, with the same Pre-
mier to guide him called yet another Order into
existence in 1918, and named it after St. Michael
and st. George. It, too, consisted of three
classes.
Touching the Hanoyeran decoration there is
a good story told of William w., which has the
merit of being authentic. On succeeding to the
throne the Sailor King was much gratif1ed to
find how many old naval officers who had served
with him or under him remembered his Majesty
and trusted his Majesty had not forgotten them.
Some of them were perhaps little Impractical
Die in their requests, and few were rather I'M
Fortunate. One the King frankly avowed at
dinner party had pestered him. However"
William continued, st got rid of him at last; I
made him Knight of the Hanoverian Guelphic
Order" "And served him right, tool" exclaimed
one OF the guests. Even the presence of the
Sovereign could not prevent an explosion of
laughter
The multiplication Of orders under the present
reg reign mas proceeded apace; nor can it be denied
mat tnelr Increase has been affected with the
general approval. The Victoria Cross and the
star OF India supplied what soldiers and Indian
Saviiians alike considered necessities. The need
t tHl Cne decorations Of the Indian Empire and
f,,e 0rown Of India was less apparent but Lord
com "sne.u us career would not have been
oS;np,eee without his founding an order of
v ~ When the Ladies' Order was founded
was omciaIy stated that no initials were
" pe placed after the names of the com
IN books Of M
little space; but what shall one sav to I nes Up
C.MG., K.C.B," which is Lord Hnfar;,,;a ~, "
Certainly he has well earned his stars and oro
ba ene bse pound to
erclse OF the patrOnageIOf hon0rs which amer ~~
tains to them How conscientiouslu Mr. E.tod
stone discharges this portion of his i,ties he LOT
the world see by his argument in the Ho1se ' Of
Commons when the ideaof literary Order was H
again mO0ted. One of his reasons for onnosin~
the suggestion wastlsat the Premier was aIreafis
overworked. and that the Consideration Of the
claims Of the various candidates for the new dis
tinction would add seriously to his labors.
The matter of the final interment of the
late President Garfield's remains at Mentor or
sherman having been agitated in his old dis
trict, Mrs. Garfield said Saturday that the.
question of his burial place isno longer open and
will not be opened. The body will remain the
CleYeland Cometery -