Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-12

red ribbon is so very. very difficult to have
The green ribbon Is for farmers. In vain
bias X been nieknamed "the Order OF the
Leek;' In vain is It alleged that its star
and wheat sheaf represents the starry firm
ament whose stars are countless; its sitlia-
ton Is exceptional because aristocratic land
owners have not disdained II. But the pnr-
pie ribbon Is the ribbon OF the academic
palms. Great savants. artists, writers pro-
fessors and musical composers wear IL. pur-
pie also Is the ribbon OF the public instruc-
ton. The two can scarcely be told apart.
And there is no limit put to their produc-
ton.
This is why the government year after
year grants purple ribbons In such numbers
as TO make you think il had been raining
purple ribbons. The lucky cafe proprietors.
BARRIERS, retail groeers and others who wear
them today are regulaiy ignorant of their
high origin and one-time lucrative emoiI-
ments
Yes. there WAS money In the purple rib
bon once. there IL money In the Legion
of Honor now. When the university. in
1905, received its present organization from
Napoleon, NE created the Palmes for title
two titles officer OF the university
and officer Of academy" Both had serious
money pensions attached to them. Toward
1850 they received the names. respectively.
OF officer OF academy" and officer OF pub
lie instruction" and the pensions had al
ready disappeared in the changes OF govern
ment. In 1896 they became veritabie homo
rihc decorations, being extended TO writer's,
saNants, members OF cantonai delegations,
or lycee and college councils. and, in a
word to Gil those having the slightest pos
sible connection with education.
Purple Badges Easy to Get.
Now they go to almost anybody. one
cannot however too much admire the sub
tie art with which the government protects
the lever grade of Paimes at the very mo-
ment 1t is showering them down In such
profuslon. The upper grade of purple rib
bon, bearing the rosette, is never granted
TO one who has not worn the lower grade
OF purple ribbon at least five years. There.
you see? There are thousands Of preten-
uous people who would not wear it for Its
own sake. Yet they continue wearing 1t
In order to have the rosette grade at tho
end of the five years. And the fact that
these same pretentious people II lifts
the lower purple ribbon In the eyes of hum
bier folk, who wear It gladly!
This is why the ribbon merchants do sucn
business They are honest tradesmeu whose
whole trade consists In selling bits OF rib
bon and the emblems thereto attaching
even to the decorations designed for lit
tie school chidren
In reality, the thing begins with children.
They actually educate their children to the
ribbon habit. Or is it-beng in the blood
that these French children are so naturally
amenable TO honoritic distinctions that 1t Is
sufficient to lead them by the hope OF mer-
ittng them week by week and month by
month?
France they put laurel crowns and crowns
OF palms-of green. of silver and of gold
upon the heads of the most brilliant the
most studious, the most obedient and so
on In little boys schools. too the crowns
still have a certain vogue.
But as the little boys grow bigger they
want rlboons-button hole iecorations-like
thefT fathers. Private schools abound in
them with splendid enbIems In both gilt
and silver dangling from them: and he is
a duii or dlsobedient boy who cannot wear
nome one such, say, one week in three. And
IN the pubic schools themselves there Is "a
real official series of both red and purple
Fiohons-a academic palms and legion OF
honor for infants!
Great Business for Ribbon Merchants.
Would you think it scant sort OF bust
ness that of the Paris ribbon merchant? l
tell you il IS world. Each French dccora-
ton has its appropriate ribbon That of the
prisons department is green with yellow
bars" That of Tonquin is green with yell
low bars. How do you distinguish them?
The yellow bars of Tonquin are vertical.
The ribbon Of MAZDA gascar is pale blue with
pale green horizontal bars. That of the
agricultural merit is green with red tips.
And 50 on Then there are the ernblens
themselves. e.. tiny replica of them struck
in gold, silver and silver gilt: and even in
translucent enamel studded with jewels
Then think of the more easily obtained
foreign decorations. How many thousands
of Frenchmen do you think possess the
brilliant STAR of Zanzibar? 1t has a red
ribbon bordered with the very slightest
White that becomes almost red when II IS
dirty. The same may be said of the Rou-
manian Order of the Star
These are queer condolences There are
even foreign decorations that have solid red
ribbons, like that of Haiti, viz: The Order Of
St. Alexander Newski Russia). the Order OF
Christ (PortugaD. the order of Merit per
sta). the Order of Constantin Utaly) the Or
der of the Lion tHessel. the order Of Leo
a NJ he ,f G
ander bulgaria.
Each of these-unless you wish to risk
arrest In France-must be worn. acompan-
led by its emblem or cross. Therefore IN
a word. the smartest ribbon merchant is he
who can give customers the smalest cross
emblem.
They even tell of one such ribbon mer-
chant who got rich by selling purple rib
bGns. warranted to fade" Fade? Fade
how? And why? Why. red, OF course
STERLING HELLO