Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-01-25
FOREIGN CHAT.
English Rewards for Feats OF
Drawer y in Peace.
The Company Of Royalty is txpen'
siye for Travellers.
4 wsmsn ei Maay Divorces and Her Cal
Association.

In view of the fact that a lad at Chi
caeo has lust received through the
agency OF the British consulate the
medal of the Royal Humane Society.
in recognition of his gallantry in saw
ing some Of King Edwards subjects
from drowning in the waters. OF Lake
Michigan, 1t may be OF timely interest
N explain what this so-called Royal
Humane Society really is. 1t was
founded in 1774 in England with view
Of promoting the efforts for the recoV-
cry OF the apparently drowned. and
likewise for the purpose OF rewarding
those who had saved or had attempted
to save persons from death by drown
ing. The society soon secured royal
patronage, was converted into a royal
CORPORATION by means OF royal CHAR
ter. while not only was. the royal mint
instructed to strike the medals con-
ferred by the society in recognition or
gallantry from rescue in drowning, but
officers and men Of the army and navy
were authorized to accept and wear
the medals on the condition that they
were worn on the right breast of the
tunic or coat OF the uniform instead
OF the left, the latter being reserved
for medals and decorations conferred
by the sovereign.
During the 127 years OF its existence
the society has been the recipient or
many gifts and bequests. SO that To-Day
1t is well endowed. and 1t Is always pre-
sided over by a member OF the royal
family. As an illustration OF the ex-
tent OF It's operations / may mention
that during the past year 672 persons
have been presented with medals for
saving 686 lives. and for endeavoring 10
save 45 other lives of people who per-
ished. Four hundred of these cases oc-
Cured in England. 20 in Ireland. 70 IN
Scotland. 40 in England's transporting
dependencies, and IS at sea or abroad
Thirty-seven of these awards went to
the navy, so to the army and Al to the
police 1t need scarcely be added that
the medals are worn with certain
amount OF pride. since they indicate
gallantry and courage. and / question
whether Admiral Lord Charles Beres-
ford does not prize his Royal Humane
Society medal. earned by plunging
overheard into a shark-infested sea to
save a drowning sailor, more than his
Order OF the Bath and all the other
decorations and medals that adorn his
breast.
I have sometimes wondered why
nothing OF the kind Is started here IN
the United States, where practically no
means exists OF suitably. rewarding
feats OF courage and OF heroism such
as those for which the Royal Humane
Society medal is conferred. In order
E 10 endow an American medal OF this
kind with the same value as that pos
sessed by the medals Of the English
Royal Humane Society the American
association should be an essentially ma
tiOnal affair in that sense that 1t should
not be restricted to any single state.
Any society thus formed on this side
Of the Atlantic might likewise take up
on itself to reward in an analogous
manner the saving of life at fires and
in case OF mine explosions, etc. Medals
such as these cannot be considered In
any way as monarchical flummery OF
institutions. and, provided that care
was observed to prevent any abuse In
their distribution. they would become
quite as much Of badge of honor rs
they are in Europe. and would certain
ly figure with more propriety on Amer
lean breasts than so many OF the shoot
ing badges and similar insignia that SC
often adoYn uniforms in this country.
American visitors to London will
miss a familiar spectacle. which may
almost be described as "a landmark
british metropolis. For the past IS
years the peculiar shaped gateway a
Whitehall. popularity known as "th'
Horse Guards" and with its mounted
life guardsmen In glittering cuirass ane
helmet, mounted on superb chargers
doing sentinel duty on either side o
the gate. has been familiar and pic
turesque Scene to everyone who passed
down Parliament street from Trafalgar
Square to the houses of Parliament
The so-cdlled Horse Guards" hav'
been the headquarters of the roya
guard ever since the days of KIM
Charles II. Whose palace at Whitehall
II adjoined. Now. however, that tn
residence, OF the sovereign has beer
transferred to buckingham Palace, tn
Headquarters of the royal guard ha
been moved to a building Just insid
buckingham gate. st. James Park. a
the western end Of Wellington Bar
racks parade. and just across the roa,
from buckingham Palace. Henceforth
therefore. there will be no more life
Euardsmen on duty at the "Hors
Guards" which will probably be nov
torn down, and the familiar spectacl
of relieving the guard. which alway
attracted large crowd of spectator
morning and evening Mt that particula
point OF Parliament street. has becom
thing OF the past.
Judging from all accounts. the di
vorced Grand Duchess Of Hesse win b
rather badly or financially speaking
and entirely dependent upon her moth
ers' generosity. For the Grand Duk
Of Hesse Is justly reputed the poores
OF European sovereigns, and 1t is n
secert that his father, the late Gran
Duke, was unable to make both end
meet without a very liberal allowanc
from his mother-in-law, Queen VictG
ria. The present Grand Duke unlik
his brother monarchs. pays no salar
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