The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-27
Only a Ribbon.
Mrs. Sherwood Corr. Boston Traveller.
A ribbon is q symbol.

A ribbon is symbol.
From the knot which burns in the
turban OF the sybil TO the simple bow
OF blue on the forehead OF "La cruche
casee," how ribbons reappear in art,
in poetry, in history, or in legend! A
ribbon fastened the crown OF laurels
around the brow OF Cesar; a ribbon
sewn with pearls held the veil OF Clotil-
de, the pious wife of Clovis. Chivalry
fought for ribbons. Edith, witlhsher
swan-likeneck, recognized her Harold
on the field OF Hastings by the scarf
which she had embroidered for him.
On the sword OF the young warrior
appears always the ribbon OF his well.
beloved. A blue ribbon fell from
the knee OF the countess of Sails
bury. 1t became the order of the
garter A red ribbon bound the curls
OF Mime. de Foptanges. 1t was chang
ed to the crown of q duchess. A
white ribbon made into cockade on
the hat OF Henry ". gained the battle
OF Ivry. Later on, these ribbons,
red, blue and white, became the
French colors, and went around
the world as the "tricolor." The
Renaissance is full OF glorious ribbons,
given, lost and retained. In the his.
tory of past loves, these little links
lemain, when years have changed and
after portraits have been effaced by
tears and kisses. Mary Stuart died
for a black velvet ribbon, which she
gave to Leicester, which he always
wore. Elizabeth could not forgive
that. Buckingham was assassinated
for certain white satin ribbons with
diamond tags-the dear and danger
Gus present OF Anne OF Austria. A
rose and silver ribbon carelessly de-
tached from the king coat was found
in the corsage OF Mile. de la Valliere J;
| it betrayed their secret. Agnes said
| to Arnolphe: "He has taken the
ribbon which you have given me-"
Perria Daudia cries out in Lies Plaid.
eurs:" "Each OF thy ribbons cost me
a sentence" Behold the cross OF St.
Louis, dipped in the blood of the
sleroes OF Steinkirk, what glorious
stained ribbonl The blood OF the war
/ rior has deepened and the sun OF Aus
terlitz has faded the ribbon, the red
| from which hangs the legion OF honor!
No age cherished rose ribbon like the
eighteenth century. Is not that the
i age of Watteau, OF lakes and moon
light, with lovers, shepherdesses COW
cred with roses, white lambs led with
blue ribbons? The age eofPompadour! OF
For. men the knot on the shoulder and
the sword commemorated the tender
est superstitions OF chivalry. The
grand Gordon, or even the cross of the
commander, was secondary to the
bow an his laces. What a variety
in ribbons! The Fontenoy, the Marie
Antoinette, tho Jean Jaques,
the Estelle, the Heloise, the Chembia,
the watered ribbon, the figured, the
fowered, the brocaded, the Chinese,
the American, the Turkish. The'mourn-
ing ribbon comes last, tying the bon
net OF the weeping widow or heart
/ broken mother. Massena marched to
victory with ribbon OF Nine. Recam-
/ ier, which she had taken from her ball
dress. He wrote to the beautiful CIV
er: "This charming ribbon given bv
Nine. Recamier has been carried
through many battles by the.Gen.
Massena; it has always brought him
victory" For cockade, Paris had
been on fire six times; during the
league, during the frond, during the
revolution, under the directoire, dur.
ing the hundred days, in the three glo-
rious days, and tomorrow, perhaps.
And Musset, ,mingling war and pleasure,
writes: Happy ne who can put the
cockade in the cap of Mimi Piuson." /"
The ribbons Of the Crimea and Italy
ornament the uniorms OF our gay
dancers at balls. To-day we wear the
ribbons OF Tonkin at our fetes. 1t is
our latest victory. After all, glory is
not vain word. We find our heroes
OF to-day so fascinated with the cross
of the legion of honor that they are
willing to dip the ribbon which fastens
| it In their blood. We bow before these
young heroes who, in an age of money,
getting, will give their youth, their
| pleasure, their life to defend their
| country, asking no other recompense
than bit of red ribbon. Like tbs
men OF our past they will die for that
little symbol which means .'it is sweet
and pleasant to def for one's country