The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-18
WORN BY OLD SOLDIERS.
roxENS OF THE GLORY GAINED
ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

,Collection at the National Museum
rra Cav Cross of the French Legion
1Fuonor. and the Grim Iron Cross of
Germany Medals Distributed by
Grateful Kings.
From the Washington Star.
GA soldier in the German army would go
+ho cannon's mouth to win that" and
~ sneaker. an officer of the National
r,usaum. pointed out to reporter the iron
loss of Germany. 1t is one of series of
tadyas and medals that have been arranged
ovhibition in case at the National
museum. Among these is a collection of
hillary decorations or medals. The Cross
- +be Legion of Honor of France, the Iron
Gross of Germany, and other decorations
1,bicb n soldier of European army would
card As fit recompense for life time of
hardship and of hard fighting, are arranged
IN entering row, each attached to little
IL If colored ribbon. Some of the field mar
kbslsof European armies have so many of
.hose decorations to wear that their padded
.,o+ bosonas are covered with them. Some
4ir,as a hero who has a large number of
tbo,n instead of wearing the originals has
,,,inia+ures of them made, and wears them
+r1ug on a little chain across his breast.
There are grand crosses which are worn on
. ribhon around the neck, and then the
| Sooorotions of the same order, but lesser
renk that are pinned on the coat bosom
| IT, man who wins one of these decorations
wives it as highly as patent to nobility.
# II is a purely military order, it means
that he has been so conspicuous for bravery
on the field of battle as to have won the at
tention
| OF HIS SOVEREIGN.
Napoleon Bonaparte, the great soldier.
| frequently poses in literature as taking
decoration from his own breast and pinning
| il upon the coat of some brave soldier in
tbe ranks. In feet there are so many French
men whose ancestors were, according to
family tradition, thus distinguished by
Napoleon, that it is surmlsed that in pro-
vidng for a campaign Napoleon must have
included wagon load of decorations in his
bagpage train. Sometimes he took deco
ration from the coat of one of his marshals
or aides and gave it to soldier. In what
ever manner the decoration was conferred,
the soldier who received it treasured it,
and it probably is still retained as a price
less heirloom by some member of his
family
THE LEGION OF HONOR,
Thecross of the Legion of Honor in the
collection at the museum was, it is said,
given by the founder of the order to a sol
| der at the Bridge of Lodi The cross is a
snowy decoration. 1t is five-rayed cross
of white enamel, upon a green enameled
wreath of oak, surmounted by a French
imperial crown, the whole being attached to
AIRED ribbon. The medallion in the center
Of the diverse bears head of Napoleon; to
right, the words Napoleon, Emperor Des
Francois" encircling the head in letters of
gold upon blue enamel. The reverse bears
an imperial eagle, and the inscription
Honor ct Patrien The crosses given
since Napoleon's day differ in design, as the
imperial emblems are not in keeping with
the changes in the political conditions of
France.
The Legion of Honor was instituted by
Napoleon Bonaparte May 0, 1902, TO recon-
penSe military and civil services. BY ordi-
nance Of Louis XVIII, July 6, 1914, the order
was approved and confirmed. tbs composed
Of grand master tthe king, a grand chan
cellor, eighty grand commanders, 100
grand officers, 400 commanders, and 1000
officers, the number of knights or chevaliers
being unlimited. Princes royal and foreign
members are not included in the above
numbers. 1t was necessary to have the
tAiAA " AA4ASiOo t'OlOi IbCSlNliR JIG uIEIltT
degrees of this order, which could be con
iered only after a service military or civil,
OF twenty-five years, or having rendered i'm
qortant services to king or state, or being
distinguished in some special action. At
the installation the following oath was
taken: Il swear fidelity to the king. honor
and my country; to reveal instantly any
thing coming to my knowledge con-
tTary to the interest of his majesty,
tne KING, or good of the state
never TO take service with a foreign
power, unless with express permission of the
A'ng 70 observe the laws, ordinances and
regulations, and to always bear myself as a
DfaVe and loyal knight of the Legion of
Honor" After the revolution of July the
oIuer again resumed the unique place and
special character which had belonged to it
under Bonaparte, though its constitution
was remodeled. Since 1870 the maximum
LUMBER or chevaliers has been fixed at 25,-
~ w. .ne remaining four classes having 20,
Wv IV0O and 1900, respectively. In each
grade three-tifths must be military persons,
.Ho resi- civilians. AT present the diverse
Ol tle stars bears the etf1gy of the republic
anu The words "Republique Francaise;" the
io1elSs TWO trl-color flags, with the original
.gsenu. Inc cross Of the legion Is worn at
ny ny Uu1'on-hole by knights of the order.
;t - class have chains of gold worn
~ Iue button-hOle, with a rosette on the
t!oo9n, The grand officers the same with
al ADDITIONAL star on the left breast. The
siauu commanders cross is suspended on a
~ Ilooon worn across the left breast, and
NC wears also star on left breast. The re-
S Gn 1arlsian scandal, involving President
;uIeVy and his son-in-law Wilson, grew out,
~ part' OF charges against Wilson of sell
Of Honor. viz '0H
SOUVENIR OF NAPOLEON.
,, 0ns OF the most curious and interesting
Ys Mas N The collection is souvenir Of
~ l., known as the st. Helena
oSr.n IL Is a small medal, the
bsoi having stamped upon it the
mcnr.o5 the great Napoleon, sur
Tba y; uaule by the French imperial crown
polsal Ptlon on this side is simply INA
Ib scrt-t l., Emperor On the reverse is an
sr,o ipilon setting forth that the medal was
f 100 ~ ,CI,0mmemoration Of the campaigns
lsst ,h, 10 his companions in glory; his
fought. Saint Helena, May 5, iS12.n
htio~s' Tor these medals and their distri-
Ws ,,'u IVA. was made in Napoleon's will. They
csntr s.i uck from the gun metal Of cannon
snor'' eI by Napoleon, and distributed
CAMS, 9nlcers who had served in his various
ma 6su9' Now they are treasured by
aern '''euuants OF the officers who received
p SERMANY's IRON CROSS.
hon 1c c.d iron cross Of Germany is a simple
u the 'o oh,' EDGED with silver. In the center
LF