Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-01-25
THE DEMOCRATIC "V. c."
A Famous War Decoration Open to
Everybody-Its Effect ON
the Men.

To Americans the greatest merit of
the famous British decoration of the
Victoria Cross must be the entirely
democratic character of its regulations.
Among its first recipients was a negro,
William Hall, of the Naval brigade.
which cut such a heroic figure in the
Indian mutiny. Since that time it has
been won by two other colored men,
William Hodge. of the First West India
regiment, and William j. Gordon, of
the Fourth. OF these three colored
''V. C.'s,' the Oldest, William Hall, is. if
he is still living. very old man. A
photograph of him taken in 1895 shows
him as a venerable. white wooded but
still erect and vigorous man. 1t is Gu
rious that all three CT these colored he
roes have the same first name. William.
Perhaps because of its being thus open
to anyone, of however lowiy estate, the
Victoria Cross in not included in the
list of "Orders" given in the works on
heraldry.
Among the regiments of the British
and Indian armies, the Ninth lancers.
otherwise called the Queens royals,
and of disastrous fame in connection
with the present war, stands first on
the list of distinction as regards the
Victoria Cross; the South Wales Bor-
derers. formerly the Twenty-fourth
infantry. being second. and the Black
Watch (Royal Highlanders) third. In
point of actual numbers, the Borderers
reckon 16 crosses to the 10 of the
Queens royals. but the former, being
an infantry regiment, with two bat
talions. has more than twice as many
men on its regimental books as the lat
ter. which gives the Queens royals the
first place. after due allowance. The
Black Watch numbers ten crosses. Of
the 13 V. C.'s in the Queens royals, all
were won in the Indian mutiny, except
that of Lord William Beresford, a broth
err of Lord Charles.
As long ago as the days of Arab
Pacha and the first British-Egyptian
war there were loud complaints that
the ambition to gain this most envied
of military distinctions was occasion
ing much reckless and Improbable ex-
posure of life. An old British horse ar
tillery noncommissioned officer. now
living in New York. who was asked
Victoria Cross. simply pooh-poohed the
idea that commissioned officer in the
British army would be so foolish as to
gamble his life away for a decoration.
sour officers know their duty better
than that he said. ''And the men,
they have to obey orders, and they
know il. Why so many officers have
been killed in South Africa is because
they know the men are all the time
looking for them to lead them. Brit
ish soldier will go through HI if his
officer tells him to. and the officers don't
want to leave it to anybody to say they
themselves won't face the danger they
order their men into."-N. Y. Tribune.
Apprehensive.
Its no use trying to get ahead OF |
'em,'' said Mr.. Blykins. Capital is |
bound to take advantage of us. 1t |
can figure it out and make it all seem |
plain and plausible, and before we |
know it, we're being oppressed"
What are you talking about?"
asked his wife.
''The twentieth century,"
"Oh, that's easy. You just make |
up your mind when you think it ought |
to begin and then say the other |
thing" Mr.. Blykins looked at her |
and then exclaimed:
did you know that The twentieth |
will be shy on Mondays? OF |
you didn't. You don't know
my mathematics or chronology out
tide the grocery book. Scientists have |
e1