The Washington herald., 1907-01-27
RAREST OF BRITISH TITLES
Story Of the Garter, Most Valued
Order in the World.
One-thfrd of knights Are ReigninE
MISUNDERSTANDING Origin of
the Decoration.

From the London Mail.
knight of the Garter" is the rarest
title that can be conferred by the King of
England.
About one-third of the knights at the
present time are reignlng Kings or En-
perors. the Shah Of Persia, the Emperor
Of Japan. the Kaiser. and the King Of
Spain being among other members Of the
most noble order"
1t was founded far back in Edward IT'S
reign. the date being ascribed to New
Years Day 1874. but authorities differ.
The Iegend-WhiCh even the romantic
Froissart contradicts-Tuns 10 this puT-
pose: 4 certain countess of Salisbury
having lost her garter at ball. his
majesty Edward III picked it up and re-
stored IT, When the cOuTtiers failed to
hide their smiles the King reproyed them
with the words. "Honi soft qui NAL y
pense." which is still the motto of the
order. That is the legend The words are
also ascribed in the motto which Edward
III selected for his secOn1 French cam
paign.
But Il IS said that the garter existed
still earlier, though not under royal de-
cree. King Richard I having select
band of knights at Acre who Wore a
leathern band around the left leg.
The famous garter itself is a band Of
blue velvet an inch broad. heavily in
crusted with gold. and bearing the motto.
"Honi soft qui NAL J pense, In letters of
solid gold Charles 7 wore a garter with
a blazing array Of 40 diamonds. and these
he did not shrink from wearing on the
scanoId-
At Windsor Castle after the new knight
had been elected by the chapter Of the
order-a ceremony which is possibly al
lowed 10 lapse-the two junior knights
proceed 10 the door OF the chapter room.
and. preceded by the garter king OF arms,
who carries the insignia on a cushion.
conducts the newly elected knight 10 the
sovereign. With the assistance Of the two
junior knights present the King buckles
IL on; then while the new knight kncels
the King puts the ribbon over his shout
dcrs.
The collar. which. Ike the collar Of all
orders. by the way. is a badge of servi-
tude, is of gold and weighs nearly thirty
ounces. II is made in tWenty-six pieces.
corresponding 10 the statute number of
members, and is To be worn when the
knight is not In his form of a garter
and in the center Of each garter is a rose
enameled red, seeded gold. and green"
The George, a figure of the saint encoun-
tering the dragon, hangs pendant in the
center.
The star. with its brilliant red cross.
was founded by Charles !. and is intend
ed to be worn when the knight is not I'm
his robes. This star. which has altered
gradually in shape in the last 800 years.
was restored 10y King Edward TO its origi-
nal shape last year. The insignia are all
presented TO the knight by the King. but
on his death they have to be returned 10
the sovereign.
The mantle is Of purple velvet lined
with white silk, with tie badge OF the or
der on the left shoulder The neck is
closed by a Gordon of purple silk and gold
IN equal parts. queen Victoria's mantle
was nine feet in length (the knights have
nantes slightly shorter than the sovar-
eigu).
The garter is worn on the left leg over
a white silk stocking and is balanced on
the right leg by a plain band of white
silk ribbon 0ady knights wear it on the
left ARM. The hood and surcOat are OF
crimson velvet, lined with white taffeta.
The admission of a Knight of the Car
ter is one Of the most gorgeous ceraroo-
MES in the world.